The  Climbers 


A    PLAY   IN    FOUR    ACTS 


By 
CLYDE    FITCH 


THE    MACMILLAN    COMPANY 
NEW   TORK         MCMVI 

LONDON:     MACMILLAN    &    CO.,    LTD. 


COPYRIGHT,  1905, 
Bv  THE  MACMILLAN   COMPANY. 

ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED. 


Set  up  and  electrotyped.     Published  December,  1905. 


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Fitch.  Performances  forbidden  and  right  of  representation  reserved. 
Application  for  the  right  of  performing  this  piece  must  be  made  to  The 
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in  accordance  with  the  penalties  provided  by  the  United  States  Stat- 
utes:— 

"SEC.  4966. — Any  person  publicly  performing  or  representing  any 
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STATUTES,  Title  60,  Chap.  3. 


Xortooob  ftrtgg 

J.  S.  Gushing  &  Co.  — Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


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TO 

CHARLES     T.     MATHEWS 

IN  GRATEFUL  RECOGNITION  OF  HIS 
TRUE  FRIENDSHIP  AND  LOYAL  EN- 
THUSIASM FROM  THE  BEGINNING 

C.  F. 

1905 


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1  463995 


THE   CLIMBERS 


ACT  I.  IN  LATE  WINTER. 

At  the  Hunter?. 

ACT  II.  THE  FOLLOWING  CHRISTMAS  EVE. 

At  the  Sterlings'. 

ACT  III.  CHRISTMAS  DAY. 

At  the  Hermitage,  by  the  Bronx  River. 

ACT  IV.  THE  DAY  AFTER  CHRISTMAS. 

At  the  Sterlings'. 

NEW  YORK:    TO-DAY 


THE  PEOPLE  IN  THE  PLAY 


RICHARD  STERLING. 

EDWARD  WARDEN. 

FREDERICK  MASON. 

JOHNNY  TROTTER. 

GODESBY. 

DR.  STEINART. 

RYDER. 

SERVANT  at  the  Hermitage. 

JORDAN.     Butler  at  the  Sterlings'. 

LEONARD.     Footman  at  the  Sterling?. 

MASTER  STERLING. 

SERVANTS. 

MRS.  STERLING  (nee  Blanche  Hunter}, 

Miss  HUNTER. 

MRS.  HUNTER. 

JESSICA  HUNTER. 

CLARA  HUNTER. 

Miss  GODESBY. 

MlSS   SlLLERTON. 

TOMPSON.     Mrs.  Hunter's  Maid. 
MARIE.     Clara  Hunter's  Maid . 


Originally  produced  at  the  Bijou  Theatre,  New 
York,  January 2 1 , 1901,  with  the  following  cast:  — 

Richard  Sterling Mr.  Frank  Worthing 

Edward  Warden Mr.  Robert  Edeson 

Frederick  Mason Mr.  John  Flood 

Johnny  Trotter Mr.  Ferdinand  Gottschalk 

Dr.  Steinart Mr.  George  C.  Boniface 

Godesby Mr.  J.  B.  Sturges 

Ryder Mr.  Kinard 

Servant  at  the  Hermitage  ....       Mr.  Henry  Warwick 
Jordan          )     .     .     Servants      .       f  Mr.  Edward  Moreland 
Leonard       \    .     .       at  the        .      \  Mr.  Henry  Stokes 
A  Footman  J     .     .     Hunters'     .       i  Mr.  Frederick  Wallace 
Richard  Sterling,  Jr Master  Harry  Wright 

Mrs.  Hunter Mrs.  Madge  Carr  Cook 

Mrs.  Sterling  (nee  Blanche  Hunter)    Miss  Amelia  Bingham 

Jessica  Hunter Miss  Maud  Monroe 

Clara  Hunter Miss  Minnie  Dupree 

Miss  Hunter Miss  Annie  Irish 

Miss  Godesby Miss  Clara  Bloodgood 

Miss  Sillerton Miss  Ysobel  Haskins 

Tompson  )   .     .        Maids  at        .       (  Miss  Lillian  Eldredge 
Marie       )  .    .     the  Hunters'  .       (  Miss  Florence  Lloyd 


u 


ACT  I 

A  drawing-room  at  the  Hunters',  handsomely  and 
artistically  furnished.  The  woodwork  and 
furniture  are  in  the  period  of  Louis  XVI. 
The  walls  and  furniture  are  covered  with 
yellow  brocade,  and  the  curtains  are  of  the 
same  golden  material.  At  the  back  are  two 
large  windows  which  give  out  on  Fifth  Avenue, 
opposite  the  Park,  the  trees  of  which  are  seen 
across  the  way.  At  Left  is  a  double  doorway, 
leading  into  the  hall.  At  Right,  opposite,  is  a 
door  which  leads  to  other  rooms,  and  thence  to 
other  parts  of  the  house.  In  the  centre,  at  back, 
between  the  two  windows,  is  the  fireplace;  on  the 
mantel  are  two  "vases  and  a  clock  in  dark  blue 


1 6  THE    CLIMBERS 

ormolu.  There  is  a  white  and  gold  piano  on 
the  Right  side  o)  the  room.  The  room  suggests 
much  wealth,  and  that  it  has  been  done  by  a 
professional  decorator;  the  personal  note  of  taste 
is  lacking. 

It  is  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  shades  of 
the  windows  are  drawn  down.  There  are  rows 
and  rows  of  camp-chairs  filling  the  entire  room. 

The  curtain  rises  slowly.  After  a  moment, 
JORDAN,  the  butler,  and  LEONARD,  a  foot- 
man, enter  from  the  Left  and  begin  to  gather 
together  and  carry  out  the  camp-chairs.  They 
do  this  with  very  serious  faces,  and  take  great 
pains  to  step  softly  and  to  make  no  noise.  They 
enter  a  second  time  for  more  chairs. 

JORDAN.   [Whispers   to   LEONARD.]  When   are 
they  coming  for  the  chairs? 


THE    CLIMBERS  17 

LEONARD.   [Whispers  back.]  To-night.     Say,  it 
was  fine,  wasn't  it ! 
JORDAN.   Grand ! 

[They  go  out  with  the  chairs  and  immediately 
reenter  for  more.  They  are  followed  in  this 
time  by  a  lady's  maid,  TOMPSON;  she  is  not  a 
young  woman.  As  she  crosses  the  room  she 
stoops  and  picks  up  a  faded  -flower  which  has 
fallen  from  some  emblem.  She  goes  to  the 
window  at  Right,  and  peeps  out.  She  turns 
around  and  looks  at  the  others.  They  all 
speak  in  subdued  voices. 

TOMPSON.  Jordan,  what  do  you  think  —  can 
we  raise  the  shades  now? 

JORDAN.  Yes,  of  course  —  after  they've  left 
the  house  it's  all  over  as  far  as  we  here  are  con- 
cerned. 

[She  raises  both  shades. 
c 


18  THE    CLIMBERS 

TOMPSON.   Phew!  what  an  odor  of  flowers! 
[She  opens  one  of  the  windows  a  little. 

[MARIE,  a  young,  pretty,  French  woman,  enters 
from  the  Right. 

MARIE.   Will  I  help  you? 

TOMPSON.  Just  with  this  table,  thank  you, 
Marie.  [They  begin  to  rearrange  the  room,  put- 
ting it  in  its  normal  condition.  They  replace  the 
table  and  put  back  the  ornaments  upon  it.]  Poor 
Mr.  Hunter,  and  him  so  fond  of  mince  pie.  I 
shall  never  forget  how  that  man  ate  mince  pie. 

[She  sighs  lugubriously  and  continues  her  labor 
with  the  room. 

LEONARD.  I  hope  as  how  it's  not  going  to  make 
any  difference  with  us. 

JORDAN.  [Pompously.]  Of  course  not;  wasn't 
Mr.  Hunter  a  millionnaire  ? 

TOMPSON.     Some    millionnaires     I've    known 


THE    CLIMBERS  19 

turned     out     poor     as    Job's    turkey    in     their 
coffins ! 

MARIE.   What   you   say?    You   tink   we   shall 
'ave  some  of  madame's  or  ze  young  ladies'  dresses ? 
TOMPSON.    [Hopefully.]   Perhaps. 
MARIE.   I    'ave   already   made    my   choice.     I 
like  ze  pale  pink  of  Mees  Jessie. 

LEONARD.   Sh!     I  heard  a  carridge. 
TOMPSON.   Then  they're  coming  back. 

[MARIE  quickly  goes  out  Right. 
JORDAN.   [To  LEONARD,  hurriedly,  as  he  quickly 
goes  out  Left.]   Take  them  last  two  chairs! 
[LEONARD,  with  the  chairs,  follows  JORDAN  out 
Left.  TOMPSON  hastily  puts  back  a  last  arm- 
chair to  its  usual  position  in  the  room  and  goes 
out  Right.    MRS.  HUNTER  enters  Left,  followed 
by  her  three   daughters,  BLANCHE,   JESSICA, 
and  CLARA,  and  MASTER  STERLING,  who  is 


THE   CLIMBERS 

a  small,  attractive  child,  five  years  of  age. 
All  are  in  the  deepest  conventional  mourning, 
MRS.  HUNTER  in  -widow's  weeds  and  CLARA 
with  a  heavy,  black  chiffon  veil;  ihe  BOY  is 
also  dressed  in  conventional  mourning.  As  soon 
as  they  enter,  all  four  women  lift  their  veils. 
MRS.  HUNTER  is  a  well-preserved  woman,  with 
a  pretty,  rather  foolish,  and  somewhat  querulous 
face.  Her  figure  is  the  latest  mode.  BLANCHE 
STERLING,  her  oldest  daughter,  is  her  antithesis, 
— a  handsome,  dignified  woman,  young,  sincere, 
and  showing,  in  her  attitude  to  the  others  and 
in  her  own  point  of  view,  the  warmth  of  a 
true,  evenly-balanced  nature.  JESSICA  is  a 
typical  second  child,  —  nice,  good,  self-effacing, 
sympathetic,  unspoiled.  CLARA  is  her  oppo- 
site, —  spoiled,  petulant,  pretty,  pert,  and 
selfish. 


THE   CLIMBERS  21 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [With  a  long  sigh.]  Oh,  I  am  so 
glad  to  be  back  home  and  the  whole  thing  over 
without  a  hitch ! 

[She  sinks  with  a  great  sigh  of  relief  into  a  big 

chair. 

BLANCHE.  [Takes  her  son  to  MRS.  HUNTER.] 
Kiss  grandmother  good-by,  and  then  Leonard 
will  take  you  home. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Good-by,  dear.  Be  a  good  boy. 
Don't  eat  too  much  candy. 

[Kisses  him  carelessly. 

MASTER    STERLING.    Good-by.   [Runs    towards 
the  door  Left,  shouting  happily.]  Leonard !  Leonard ! 
MRS.  HUNTER.   [Tearfully.]  My  dears,  it  was 
a  great  success !     Everybody  was  there ! 

[The  three  younger  women  stand  and  look  about 
the  room,  as  if  it  were  strange  to  them  —  as  if 
it  were  empty.  There  is  a  moment's  silence. 


22  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  [Tenderly.]  Mother,  why  don't  you 
take  off  your  bonnet? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Take  it  off  for  me;  it  will  be  a 
great  relief. 

BLANCHE.   Help  me,  Jess. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Irritably.]  Yes,  do  something, 
Jessie.  You've  mortified  me  terribly  to-day! 
That  child  hasn't  shed  a  tear.  People'll  think 
you  didn't  love  your  father.  [The  two  are  taking 
off  MRS.  HUNTER'S  bonnet.  MRS.  HUNTER 
waits  for  an  answer  from  JESSICA  ;  none  comes.] 
I  never  saw  any  one  so  heartless !  [Tearful 
again.]  And  her  father  adored  her.  She 
was  one  of  the  things  we  quarrelled  most 
about ! 

[Over  MRS.  HUNTER'S  head  BLANCHE  exchanges 
a  sympathetic  look  with  JESSICA  to  show  she 
understands. 


THE   CLIMBERS  23 

CLARA.  I'm  sure  I've  cried  enough.  I've  cried 
buckets. 

[She  goes  to  MRS.  HUNTER  as  BLANCHE  and 
JESSICA  take  away  the  bonnet  and  veil  and 
put  them  on  the  piano. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Kissing  Clara.]  Yes,  dear, 
you  are  your  mother's  own  child.  And  you  lose 
the  most  by  it,  too. 

[Leaning  against  the  side  of  her  mother's  chair, 
with  one  arm  about  her  mother. 

CLARA.  Yes,  indeed,  instead  of  coming  out  next 
month,  and  having  a  perfectly  lovely  winter, 
I'll  have  to  mope  the  whole  season,  and,  if  I  don't 
look  out,  be  a  wallflower  without  ever  having 
been  a  bud ! 

MRS  .  HUNTER.  [Half  amused  but  feeling  CLARA'S 
remark  is  perhaps  not  quite  the  right  thing.]  Sh — 

[During  CLARA'S  speech  above,  BLANCHE  has 


24  THE   CLIMBERS 

taken  JESSICA  in  her  arms  a  moment  and 
kissed  her  tenderly,  slowly.  They  rejoin 
MRS.  HUNTER,  BLANCHE  wiping  her  eyes, 
JESSICA  still  tearless. 

CIARA.  And  think  of  all  the  clothes  we  brought 
home  from  Paris  last  month! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  My  dear,  don't  think  of  clothes 
—  think  of  your  poor  father !  That  street  dress 
of  mine  will  dye  very  well,  and  we'll  give  the 
rest  to  your  aunt  and  cousins. 

BLANCHE.  Mother,  don't  you  want  to  go  upstairs  ? 
JESSICA.   [Sincerely   moved.]  Yes,   I   hate   this 
room  now. 

MRS.     HUNTER.   [Rising.]  Hate    this    room! 
When  we've  just  had  it  done !     Louis  Kinge ! 

BLANCHE.    Louis    Quinze,    dear!    She    means 
the  associations  now,  mother. 
MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh,  yes,  but  that's  weak  and 


THE   CLIMBERS  25 

foolish,  Jessie.     No,  Blanche  —  [Sitting  again.]  — 
I'm  too  exhausted  to  move.     Ring  for  tea. 

[BLANCHE  rings  the  bell  beside  the  mantel. 

CLARA.  [Crossing  to  piano,  forgets  and  starts 
to  play  a  music-hall  song,  but  MRS.  HUNTER 
stops  her.}  Oh,  yes, 'tea!  I'm  starved! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Clara,  darling !  As  if  you  could 
be  hungry  at  such  a  time ! 

[JORDAN  enters  Left. 

BLANCHE.   Tea,  Jordan. 

JORDAN.   Yes,  madam. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Girls,  everybody  in  town  was 
there !  I'm  sure  even  your  father  himself  couldn't 
have  complained. 

BLANCHE.  Mother! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Well,  you  know  he  always 
found  fault  with  my  parties  being  too  mixed.  He 


26  THE    CLIMBERS 

wouldn't  realize  I  couldn't  throw  over  all  my  old 
set  when  I  married  into  his,  —  not  that  I  ever 
acknowledged  I  was  your  father's  inferior.  I 
consider  my  family  was  just  as  good  as  his,  only 
we  were  Presbyterians! 

BLANCHE.   Mother,  dear,  take  off  your  gloves. 
MRS.    HUNTER.   I    thought    I    had.   [Crying.] 
I'm  so  heartbroken  I  don't  know  what  I'm  doing. 
[Taking  off  her  gloves. 
[BLANCHE  and  CLARA  comfort  their  mother. 
JESSICA.   Here's  the  tea  — 
[JORDAN  and  LEONARD   enter  with  large,  sil- 
ver tray,  with  tea,  cups,  and  thin  bread-and- 
butter  sandwiches.     They  place  them  on  small 
tea-table  which  JESSICA  arranges  for  them. 
MRS.   HUNTER.   I'm   afraid  I   can't   touch  it. 
[Taking  her   place   behind  tea-table  and  biting 
eagerly  into  a  sandwich* 


THE    CLIMBERS  27 

JESSICA.    [Dryly.]   Try. 

[BLANCHE  pours  tea  for  them  all,  which  they 
take  in  turn. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Eating.]  One  thing  I  was 
furious  about,  —  did  you  see  the  Witherspoons 
here  at  the  house? 

CLARA.   7  did. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  The  idea!  When  I've  never 
called  on  them.  They  are  the  worst  social  pushers 
I've  ever  known. 

[She  takes  another  sandwich. 

CLARA.  Trying  to  make  people  think  they  are 
on  our  visiting  list !  Using  even  a  funeral  to  get  in ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  But  I  was  glad  the  Worthings 
were  here,  and  I  thought  it  sweet  of  old  Mr.  Dormer 
to  go  even  to  the  cemetery.  [Voice  breaks  a  little.] 
He  never  goes  to  balls  any  more,  and,  they  say, 
catches  cold  at  the  slightest  change  of  temperature 


28  THE   CLIMBERS 

[She  takes  a  third  sandwich. 
BLANCHE.   A  great  many  people  loved  father. 
MRS.   HUNTER.   [Irritably.]  They  ought  to've. 
It  was  really  foolish  the  way  he  was  always  doing 
something  for  somebody!    How  good  these  sand- 
wiches are!  [Spoken  very  plaintively. 
JESSICA.   Shall    we    have    to    economize    now, 
mother  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Of  course  not;  how  dare  you 
suggest  such  an  injustice  to  your  father,  and  before 
the  flowers  are  withered  on  his  grave! 

[Again  becoming  tearful. 
[JORDAN  enters  Left  with  a  small  silver  tray, 

heaping  full  of  letters. 
Has  the  new  writing  paper  come? 

BLANCHE.   [Who    takes    the    letters    and    looks 
through  them,  giving  some  to  her  mother.]  Yes. 
[BLANCHE    reads  a  Utter,  and    passes    it    to 
JESSICA. 


THE    CLIMBERS  29 

MRS.    HUNTER.   Is    the    black    border    broad 
enough?    They  said  it  was  the  thing. 

CLARA.   If  you  had  it  any  broader,  you'd  have 
to  get  white  ink  to  write  with! 

MRS.    HUNTER.    [Sweetly.]   Don't    be    imperti- 
nent, darling! 

[Reading  another  letter. 

[Enter  Miss  RUTH  HUNTER.  She  is  an  un- 
married woman  between  thirty  and  forty  years 
of  age,  handsome,  distinguished ;  an  aris- 
tocrat, without  any  pretensions  ;  simple,  un- 
affected, and  direct  in  her  effort  to  do  kindnesses 
where  they  are  not  absolutely  undeserved.  She 
enters  the  room  as  if  she  carried  with  her  an 
atmosphere  of  pure  ozone.  This  affects  all 
those  in  it.  She  is  dressed  in  deep  mourning 
and  wears  a  thick  chiffon  veil,  which  she 
removes  as  she  enters. 


30  THE    CLIMBERS 

RUTH.   Oh!  you're  having  tea! 

[Glad  that  they  are. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Taking  a  second  cup.]  I  thought 
the  children  ought  to. 

RUTH.    Of  course  they  ought  and  so  ought  you, 
if  you  haven't. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh,  I've  trifled  with  something. 

JESSICA.   Sit  here,  Aunt  Ruth. 

BLANCHE.   Will  you  have  a  cup,  Aunt  Ruth? 

RUTH.   Yes,  dear,  I'm  feeling  very  hungry. 

[Sitting  on  the  sofa  beside  JESSICA  and  pressing 
her  hand  as  she  does  so. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Hungry!    How  can  you! 

RUTH.   Because  I'm  not  a  hypocrite! 

MRS.  HUNTER.   [Whimpering.]  I  suppose  that's 
a  slur  at  me! 

RUTH.   If  the   slipper  fits!    But  I   confess  I 
haven't  eaten  much  for  several  days;  I  couldn't 


THE   CLIMBERS  31 

touch  anything  this  morning,  and  I  begin  to  feel 
exhausted;  I  must  have  food  and,  thank  Heaven, 
I  want  it.  Thank  you. 

[To  BLANCHE,  taking  the  cup  from  her. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  think  it's  awful,  Ruth,  and  I 
feel  I  have  a  right  to  say  it  —  I  think  you  owed 
it  to  my  feelings  to  have  worn  a  long  veil;  people 
will  think  you  didn't  love  your  brother. 

RUTH.  [Dryly.]  Will  they?  Let  them!  You 
know  as  well  as  I  do  that  George  loathed  the  very 
idea  of  crepe  and  all  display  of  mourning. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Feeling  out  of  her  element, 
changes  the  subject.]  You  stayed  behind? 

RUTH.  Yes.  I  wanted  to  be  the  last  there. 
[Her  voice  chokes;  she  tries  to  control  herself.]  Ah! 
you  see  my  nerves  are  all  gone  to  pieces.  I  won't 
cry  any  more! 

MRS.    HUNTER.  I   don't   see   how   you   could 


32  THE   CLIMBERS 

bear  it  —  staying ;  but  you  never  had  any  heart, 
Ruth. 

RUTH.  [Mechanically,  biting  her  lips  hard  to 
keep  the  tears  back.}  Haven't  I? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  My  darling  husband  always  felt 
that  defect  in  you. 

RUTH.   George  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  He  resented  your  treatment  of 
me,  and  often  said  so. 

RUTH.  [Very  quietly,  but  with  determination.} 
Please  be  careful.  Don't  talk  to  me  like  this 
about  my  brother,  Florence  —  or  you'll  make  me 
say  something  I  shall  be  sorry  for. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  don't  care !  It  wore  on  him, 
the  way  you  treated  me.  I  put  up  with  it  for  his 
sake,  but  it  helped  undermine  his  health. 

RUTH.   Florence,  stop! 

MRS.  HUNTER.   [In  foolish  anger,  the  resentment 


THE   CLIMBERS  33 

of  years  bursting  out.}  I  won't  stop !  I'm  alone 
now,  and  the  least  you  can  do  is  to  see  that  people 
who've  fought  shy  of  me  take  me  up  and  give  me 
my  due.  You've  been  a  cruel,  selfish  sister-in- 
law,  and  your  own  brother  saw  and  hated  you 
for  it! 

BLANCHE.   Mother  I 

RUTH.  [Outraged.]  Send  your  daughters  out  of 
the  room;  I  wish  to  answer  you  alone. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Frightened.]  No!,  what  you 
have  to  say  to  me  I  prefer  my  children  to  hear! 

[CLARA  comes  over  to  her  mother  and  puts  her 
arm  about  her. 

RUTH.  I  can't  remain  quiet  any  longer.  George 
—  [She  almost  breaks  down,  but  she  controls  herself.] 
This  funeral  is  enough,  with  its  show  and  worldli- 
ness !  I  don't  believe  there  was  a  soul  in  the  church 
you  didn't  see!  Look  at  your  handkerchief! 


34  THE   CLIMBERS 

Real  grief  isn't  measured  by  the  width  of  a  black 
border.  I'm  ashamed  of  you,  Florence !  I  never 
liked  you  very  much,  although  I  tried  to  for  your 
husband's  sake,  but  now  I'm  even  more  ashamed  of 
you.  My  dear  brother  is  gone,  and  there  need 
be  no  further  bond  between  us,  but  I  want  you  to 
understand  the  true  reason  why,  from  to-day,  I 
keep  away  from  you.  This  funeral  was  revolting 
to  me! — a  show  spectacle,  a  social  function,  and 
for  him  who  you  know  hated  the  very  thing. 
[She  slops  a  moment  to  control  her  tears  and  her 
anger.]  I  saw  the  reporters  there,  and  I  heard 
your  message  to  them,  and  I  contradicted  it.  I 
begged  them  not  to  use  your  information,  and  they 
were  gentlemen  and  promised  me  not  to.  You  are, 
and  always  have  been,  a  silly,  frivolous  woman. 
I  don't  doubt  you  loved  your  husband  as  much 
as  you  could  any  man,  but  it  wasn't  enough  for  me; 


THE   CUMBERS  35 

he  was  worth  being  adored  by  the  best  and  noblest 
woman  in  the  world.  I've  stood  by  all  these 
years,  trying  with  my  love  and  silent  sympathy  to 
be  some  comfort  to  him  —  but  I  saw  the  disap- 
pointment and  disillusionment  eat  away  the  very 
hope  of  happiness  out  of  his  heart.  I  tried  to  help 
him  by  helping  you  in  your  foolish  ambitions, 
doing  what  I  could  to  give  my  brother's  wife  the 
social  position  his  name  entitled  her  to! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  That's  not  true;  I've  had  to 
fight  it  out  all  alone ! 

RUTH.  It  was  not  my  fault  if  my  best  friends 
found  you  intolerable ;  /  couldn't  blame  them. 
Well,  now  it's  over!  George  is  at  rest,  please 
God.  You  are  a  rich  woman  to  do  what  you 
please.  Go,  and  do  it!  and  Heaven  forgive  you 
for  ruining  my  brother's  life !  I'm  sorry  to  have 
said  all  this  before  your  children.  Blanche,  you 


36  THE   CLIMBERS 

know  how  dearly  I  love  you,  and  I  hope  you  have 
forgiven  me  by  now  for  my  opposition  to  your 
marriage. 

BLANCHE.  Of  course  I've  forgiven  you,  but 
you  were  always  unjust  to  Dick. 

RUTH.  Yes;  I  didn't  like  your  husband  then, 
and  I  didn't  believe  in  him,  but  I  like  him  better 
now.  And  I  am  going  to  put  all  my  affairs  in  his 
hands.  I  couldn't  show  —  surely  —  a  better  proof 
of  confidence  and  liking  than  that :  to  trust  him  as 
I  did  —  your  father.  I  hope  I  shall  see  much  of 
you  and  Jessica.  As  for  you,  Clara,  I  must  be 
honest  — 

CLARA.  [Interrupting  her.]  Oh,  I  know  you've 
always  hated  me!  The  presents  you  gave  the 
other  girls  were  always  twice  as  nice  as  I  got! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Sympathetically.]  Come  here, 
darling. 


THE   CLIMBERS  37 

[CLARA  goes  and  puts  her  arms  about  her  mother's 

neck. 

RUTH.  You  are  your  mother's  own  child,  Clara, 
and  I  never  could  pretend  anything  I  didn't  feel. 
[She  turns  to  BLANCHE  and  JESSICA,  who  stand 
side  by  side.]  You  two  are  all  I  have  left  in  the 
world  of  my  brother.  [She  kisses  them,  and  lets 
the  tears  come,  this  time  without  struggling.]  Take 
pity  on  your  old-maid  aunt  and  come  and  see  me, 
won't  you,  often  —  [Trying  to  smile  away  her 
tears.]  And  now  good-by! 

JESSICA  AND  RUTH.  [Taking  her  hands.] 
Good-by. 

[RUTH  looks  about  the  room  to  say  good-by 
to  it;  she  cries  and  hurriedly  begins  pull- 
ing down  her  veil,  and  starts  to  go  out  as 
JORDAN  enters  Left  and  announces  "Mr. 
Mason!" 


38  THE   CLIMBERS 

[MRS.  HUNTER  fluffs  her  hair  a  little  and  hopes 

she  looks  becoming. 

[MASON  is  a  typical  New  Yorker,  well  built,  well 
preserved,    dignified,    and    good-looking,  —  a 
solid  man  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 
MASON.    [Meeting   RUTH,   shakes   hands    with 
her.]    Miss  Hunter. 
RUTH.   I  am  just  going,  Mr.  Mason. 
MASON.   You  must  stay.     I  sent  word  to  your 
house  this  morning  to  meet  me  here. 

[Shakes  hands  with  the  others. 
RUTH.   I  was  here  all  night. 
MRS.  HUNTER.   Will  you  have  some  tea?    The 
children  were  hungry. 

MASON.  No,  thank  you.   [To  BLANCHE.]  Isn't 
your  husband  here? 

[JORDAN,  at  a  signal  from  MRS.  HUNTER,  removes 
the  tea  things. 


THE   CLIMBERS  39 

BLANCHE.  No,  he  left  us  at  the  door  when  we 
came  back. 

MASON.  Didn't  he  get  a  letter  from  me  this 
morning  asking  him  to  meet  me  here? 

BLANCHE.  Oh,  yes,,  he  did  mention  a  letter  at 
breakfast,  but  my  thoughts  were  away.  He  has 
been  very  much  worried  lately  over  his  affairs; 
he  doesn't  confide  in  me,  but  I  see  it.  I  wish  you 
could  advise  him,  Mr.  Mason. 

MASON.  I  cannot  advise  your  husband  if  he 
won't  ask  my  advice.  I  don't  think  we'll  wait  for 
Mr.  Sterling. 

[Gives  chair  to  MRS.  HUNTER. 

'MRS.  HUNTER.  I  suppose  you've  come  about 
all  the  horrid  business.  Why  not  just  tell  us  how 
much  our  income  is,  and  let  all  the  details  go.  I 
really  think  the  details  are  more  than  I  can  bear 
to-day. 


40  THE   CLIMBERS 

MASON.  That  can  be  certainly  as  you  wish ;  but 
I  felt  —  as  your  business  adviser  —  and  besides  I 
promised  my  old  friend,  your  husband  —  it  was  my 
duty  to  let  you  know  how  matters  stand  with  the 
least  possible  delay. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Beginning  to  break  down.] 
George !  George ! 

[RuxH  looks  at  her,  furious,  and  bites  her  lips 
hard.  JESSICA  is  standing  with  her  back 
toward  them. 

MASON.   Well,  then  — 

[He  is  interrupted  by  MRS.  HUNTER,  who  sees 
JESSICA. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Jess!  How  rude  you  are! 
Turn  around  this  minute !  [ JESSICA  does  not  move.] 
What  do  you  mean!  Excuse  me,  Mr.  Mason! 
Jess!  Such  disrespect  to  your  father's  will! 
Turn  around!  [Angry.]  Do  you  hear  me? 


THE   CLIMBERS  41 

JESSICA.  [With  her  back  still  turned,  her  shoul- 
ders shaking,  speaks  in  a  voice  broken  with  sobs.] 
Leave  me  alone!  Leave  me  alone  — 

[She  sits  in  a  chair  beside  her  and  leans  her  arms 
upon  its  back  and  buries  her  face  in  her  arms. 

BLANCHE.  [With  her  hand  on  her  mother's  arm.] 
Mother!  Don't  worry  her! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Go  on,  please,  Mr.  Mason, 
and  remember,  spare  us  the  details.  What  is  our 
income  ? 

MASON.   Mrs.  Hunter,  there  is  no  income. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Quietly,  not  at  all  grasping 
what  he  means.]  No  income!  How  is  our 
money  — 

MASON.  I  am  sorry  to  say  there  is  no 
money. 

MRS.   HUNTER.   [Echoes  weakly.]  No  money? 

MASON.   Not  a  penny! 


42  THE   CLIMBERS 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Realizing  now  what  he  means, 
cries  out  in  a  loud,  hard,  amazed  voice.]  What! 

BLANCHE.  [With  her  hand  on  her  shoulder.] 
Mother ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.   I  don't  believe  it! 

RUTH.  [To  MASON.]  My  good  friend,  do  you 
mean  that  literally  —  that  my  brother  died 
without  leaving  any  money  behind  him? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   For  his  wife  and  family? 

MASON.   I  mean  just  that. 

RUTH.   But  how? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Yes,  tell  us  the  details  —  every 
one  of  them !  You  can't  imagine  the  shock  this  is 
to  me! 

MASON.  Hunter  sent  for  me  two  days  before  he 
died,  and  told  me  things  had  gone  badly  with  him 
last  year,  but  it  seemed  impossible  to  retrench 
his  expenses. 


THE   CLIMBERS  43 

RUTH.   Are  you  listening,  Florence  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Yes,  of  course  I  am;  your 
brother  was  a  very  extravagant  man ! 

MASON.  This  year,  with  his  third  daughter 
coming  out,  there  was  need  of  more  money  than 
ever.  He  was  harassed  nearly  to  death  with 
financial  worries.  [RuTH  begins  to  cry  softly. 
MRS.  HUNTER  gets  angrier  and  angrier.]  And 
finally,  in  sheer  desperation,  and  trusting  to  the 
advice  of  the  Storrings,  he  risked  everything  he 
had  with  them  in  the  Consolidated  Copper. 
The  day  after,  he  was  taken  ill.  You  know  what 
happened.  The  Storrings,  Hunter,  and  others 
were  ruined  absolutely;  the  next  day  Hunter 
died. 

RUTH.  Poor  George!  Why  didn't  he  come  to 
me;  he  must  have  known  that  everything  I  had 
was  his! 


44  THE    CLIMBERS 

MASON.  He  was  too  ill  when  the  final  blow 
came  to  realize  it. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Angry.]  But  his  life  insurance, 
—  there  was  a  big  policy  in  my  name. 

MASON.   He  had  been  obliged  to  let  that  lapse. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  You  mean  I  haven't  even  my 
life  insurance? 

MASON.  As  I  said,  there  is  nothing,  except  this 
house,  and  that  is  — 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Rises  indignantly  and  almost 
screams  in  angry  hysterics.]  Mortgaged,  I  presume ! 
Oh,  it's  insulting !  It's  an  indignity.  It's  —  it's  — 
Oh,  well,  it's  just  like  my  husband,  there! 

BLANCHE.   Mother ! 

[Ruin  rises,  and,  taking  MASON'S  arm,  leads  him 
aside. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [To  BLANCHE.]  Oh,  don't  talk 
to  me  now !  You  always  preferred  your  father, 


THE   CLIMBERS  45 

and  now  you're  punished  for  it !  He  has  wilfully 
left  your  mother  and  sisters  paupers! 

BLANCHE.  How  can  you  speak  like  that! 
Surely  you  know  father  must  have  suffered  more 
than  we  could  when  he  realized  he  was  leaving 
nothing  for  you. 

JESSICA.  Yes,  and  it  was  for  us  too  that  he  lost 
all.  It  was  our  extravagance. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Hush !  How  dare  you  side 
against  me,  too? 

RUTH.  Florence  — 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Well,  Ruth,  what  do  you  think 
of  your  brother  now? 

BLANCHE.  [To  her  mother.]  Don't! 

MASON.  By  whom  were  the  arrangements  for 
to-day  made? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  My  son-in-law  had  most  press- 
ing business,  and  his  friend  — 


46  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  The  friend  of  all  of  us  — 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Yes,  of  course,  Mr.  Warden 
saw  to  everything. 

BLANCHE.   He  will  be  here  any  moment! 

MASON.  When  he  comes,  will  you  send  him  on 
to  me,  please? 

RUTH.   Yes. 

MASON.  Very  well.  Good-by.  [Shakes  hands 
with  BLANCHE.]  I  am  very  sorry  to  have  been 
the  bearer  of  such  bad  news. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Shaking  hands  with  him.] 
Please  overlook  anything  I  may  have  said;  at  such 
a  moment,  with  the  loss  of  all  my  money  —  and 
my  dear  husband  —  I  don't  know  what  to  say ! 

MASON.  Naturally.  [To  the  others.]  Good-by. 
[To  RUTH,  who  follows  him.]  I'll  come  to  see  you 
in  the  morning. 

[As  they  shake  hands. 


THE   CLIMBERS  47 

RUTH.  And  I  can  then  tell  you  what  I  settle 
here  now.  [MASON  goes  out  Left.]  Florence,  I'm 
very  sorry  — 

[Interrupted. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh!     You/    Sorry! 

RUTH.  Yes,  very,  very  sorry,  —  first,  that  I 
spoke  as  I  did  just  now. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  It's  too  late  to  be  sorry  for 
that  now. 

RUTH.  No,  it  isn't,  and  I'll  prove  to  you  I  mean 
it.  Come,  we'll  talk  things  over. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Go  away!  I  don't  want  you 
to  prove  anything  to  me!  [MRS.  HUNTER  and 
CLARA  sit  side  by  side  on  the  sofa.  BLANCHE  and 
JESSICA  are  in  chairs  near  the  table.  RUTH  sits 
beside  BLANCHE.  MRS.  HUNTER  has  something 
the  manner  of  porcupines  and  shows  a  set  de- 
termination to  accept  nothing  by  way  of  comfort 


48  THE   CLIMBERS 

or  expedient.  BLANCHE  looks  hopeful  and  ready 
to  take  the  helm  for  the  family.  JESSICA  will  back 
up  BLANCHE.]  My  happiness  in  this  world  is 
over.  What  have  I  to  live  for? 

RUTH.  Your  children! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Beggars  like  myself! 

BLANCHE.   But  your  children  will  work  for  you. 

CLARA.   Work!    I  see  myself. 

RUTH.   So  do  I. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  My  children  work!  Don't  be 
absurd ! 

JESSICA.  It  is  not  absurd !  I  can  certainly  earn 
my  own  living  somehow  and  so  can  Clara. 

CLARA.  Doing  what,  I  should  like  to  know! 
I  see  myself! 

BLANCHE.  Jess  is  right.  I'll  take  care  of  this 
family  —  father  always  said  I  was  "his  own  child." 
I'll  do  my  best  to  take  his  place. 


THE    CLIMBERS 

RUTH.  I  will  gladly  give  Jessica  a  home. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Whimpers,]  You'd  rob  me  of 
my  children,  too! 

JESSICA.  Thank  you,  Aunt  Ruth,  but  I  must 
stay  with  mother  and  be  Blanche's  right-hand 
man! 

CLARA.   I  might  go  on  the  stage. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  My  dear,  smart  people  don't 
any  more. 

CLARA.   I'd  like  to  be  a  sort  of  Anna  Held. 

JESSICA.  I  don't  see  why  I  couldn't  learn  type- 
writing, Blanche? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Huh!  Why,  you  could  never 
even  learn  to  play  the  piano  ;  I  don't  think  you'd 
be  much  good  at  typewriting. 

CLARA.  You  want  to  be  a  typewriter,  because 
in  the  papers  they  always  have  an  old  gentleman 
taking  them  to  theatres  and  supper!  No,  sir,  if 


50  THE    CLIMBERS 

there  is  to  be  any  "old  man's  darling"  in  this 
family,  /'//  be  it/ 

RUTH.  [Dryly.]  You'll  have  to  learn  to  spell 
correctly  first! 

CLARA.   [Superciliously.]  Humph! 

JESSICA.  There  are  lots  of  ways  nowadays  for 
women  to  earn  their  living. 

RUTH.  Yes,  typewriting  we  will  consider. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Never! 

[No  one  pays  any  attention  to  her  except  CLARA, 
who  agrees  with  her. 

RUTH.  Jess,  you  learned  enough  to  teach, 
didn't  you  ?  —  even  at  that  fashionable  school 
your  mother  sent  you  to? 

JESSICA.   Oh,  yes,  I  think  I  could  teach. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Never ! 

[Still  no  one  pays  any  attention  except  CLARA, 
who  again  agrees  with  her. 


THE   CLIMBERS  51 

CLARA.   No,  indeed!    /  wouldn't  teach! 

BLANCHE.  If  we  only  knew  some  ^ice  elderly 
woman  who  wanted  a  companion,  Jess  would  be 
a  godsend. 

CLARA.  If  she  was  a  nice  old,  lady  with  lots  of 
money  and  delicate  health,  I  wouldn't  mind  that 
position  myself. 

RUTH.  Clara,  you  seem  to  take  this  matter 
as  a  supreme  joke! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [With  mock  humility.]  May  7 
speak?  [She  waits.  All  turn  to  her.  A  moment's 
silence.]  MAY  I  speak? 

RUTH.  Yes,  yes.  Go  on,  Florence  ;  don't  you 
see  we're  listening? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  didn't  know!  I've  been 
so  completely  ignored  in  this  entire  conversation. 
But  there  is  one  thing  for  the  girls  —  the  easiest 
possible  way  for  them  to  earn  their  living  — 


52  THE   CLIMBERS 

which   you  don't  seem   for  a  moment  to  have 
thought  of! 

[She  waits  with  a  smile  oj  coming  triumph  on  her 
face. 

RUTH.  Nursing! 

MRS.  HUNTER.   [Disgusted.}  No! 

CLARA.   Manicuring  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Darling! 

BLANCHE.   Designing  dresses  and  hats? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  No ! 

JESSICA.   Book-keeping  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   No. 

RUTH.   Then  what  in  tne  world  is  it? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Marriage! 

CLARA.   Oh,  of  course ! 

RUTH.   Humph! 

[JESSICA  and  BLANCHE  exchange  glances. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   That  young  Mr.  Trotter  would 
be  a  fine  catch  for  Jess. 


THE   CLIMBERS  53 

JESSICA.   Who  loathes  him! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Don't  be  old-fashioned!  He's 
very  nice. 

RUTH.  A  little  cad,  trying  to  get  into  society  — 
nice  occupation  for  a  man  I 

JESSICA.   Mother,  you  can't  be  serious. 

CLARA.   Why  wouldn't  he  do  for  me? 

RUTH.    He  would!    The  very  thing! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  We'll  see,  darling ;  I  think 
Europe  is  the  place  for  you.  I  don't  believe  all 
the  titles  are  gobbled  up  yet. 

RUTH.  Jess,  I  might  get  you  some  women 
friends  of  mine,  to  whom  you  could  go  mornings 
and  answer  their  letters. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  should  not  allow  my  daughter 
to  go  in  that  capacity  to  the  house  of  any  woman 
who  had  refused  to  call  on  her  mother,  which  is 
the  way  most  of  your  friends  have  treated  me ! 


54  THE   CLIMBERS 

RUTH.  Do  you  realize,  Florence,  this  is  a  ques- 
tion of  bread  and  butter,  a  practical  suggestion  of 
life,  which  has  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the 
society  columns  of  the  daily  papers? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  do  not  intend  that  my  daugh- 
ters shall  lose  their  positions  because  their  father 
has  been  —  what  shall  we  call  it  —  criminally 
negligent  of  them. 

RUTH.  [Rising.]  How  dare  you!  You  are  to 
blame  for  it  all.  If  you  say  another  word  injuri- 
ous to  my  brother's  memory,  I'll  leave  this  house 
and  let  you  starve  for  all  I'll  do  for  you. 

BLANCHE.  Aunt  Ruth,  please,  for  father's 
sake  — 

CLARA.   Well,  this  house  is  ours,  anyway! 

BLANCHE.  That  is  what  I've  been  thinking 
of.  The  house  is  yours.  It's  huge.  You  don't 
need  it.  You  must  either  give  it  up  altogether  — 


THE   CLIMBERS  55 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Interrupts.]  What!  Leave  it! 
My  house!  Never  ! 

BLANCHE.  Or  —  let  out  floors  to  one  or  two 
friends,  —  bachelor  friends.  Mr.  Mason ,  perhaps  — 

CLARA.  [Interrupts,  rising,  furious.]  Take  in 
boarders  I 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Who  has  listened  aghast,  now 
rises  in  outraged  dignity;  she  stands  a  moment 
glaring  at  BLANCHE,  then  speaks.]  Take  — 
[She  chokes.]  That  is  the  last  straw! 

[And  she  sweeps  from  the  room  Right. 

CLARA.   Mama !    Mama ! 

[She  goes  out  after  her  mother. 

[The  other  three  women  watch  the  two  leave  the 
room,  then  turn  and  look  at  each  other. 

BLANCHE.  We'll  manage  somehow,  only  I  think 
it  would  be  easier  for  us  to  discuss  all  practical 
matters  by  ourselves. 


56  THE   CLIMBERS 

RUTH.  And  I  want  you  to  understand  this, 
girls,  —  I  represent  your  dear  father  ;  half  of 
everything  I  have  is  yours,  and  you  must  promise 
me  always  to  come  to  me  for  everything. 

[STERLING  enters  suddenly  Left. 
[He  is  a  man  of  thirty-eight  or  forty,  a  singu- 
larly attractive  personality ;    he  is  handsome 
and  distinguished.      His  hair  is  grayer  than 
his  years  may  account  for  and  his  manner 
betrays  a  nervous  system  overtaxed  and  barely 
under  control.     At  the  moment  that  he  enters 
he  is  evidently  laboring  under  some  especial, 
and  only  half-concealed,  nervous  strain.      In 
spite  of  his  irritability  at  times  with  his  wife, 
there  is  an  undercurrent  of  tenderness  which 
reveals  his  real  love  for  BLANCHE. 
STERLING.   Oh,  you're  all  here !   Have  I  missed 
old  Mason? 


THE   CLIMBERS  57 

RUTH.  Yes,  but  Blanche  will  tell  you  what  he 
had  to  say.  I'm  going  upstairs  to  try  and  pacify 
your  mother.  We  mustn't  forget  she  has  a  hard 
time  ahead  of  her. 

[She  goes  out  Right  with  JESSICA. 

STERLING.  I  suppose  Mason  came  about  the 
will  and  your  father's  affairs? 

BLANCHE.   Yes,  you  ought  to  have  been  here. 

STERLING.  [Irritably.]  But  I  couldn't— I  told 
you  I  couldn't! 

BLANCHE.  Do  you  realize,  dear,  that  you 
haven't  been  able  to  do  anything  for  me  for  a  long 
time  ?  Lately,  even  I  hardly  ever  see  you  —  I  stay 
home  night  after  night  alone. 

STERLING.  That's  your  own  fault,  dear;  Ned 
Warden's  always  ready  to  take  you  anywhere  you 
like. 

BLANCHE.   [With  the  ghost  of  a  jest.]  But  do  you 


58  THE   CLIMBERS 

think  it's  quite  right  for  me  to  take  up  all  Mr. 
Warden's  time? 

STERLING.   Why  not,  if  he  likes  it? 

BLANCHE.  And  don't  you  think  people  will 
soon  talk? 

STERLING.  Darling!  People  always  talk,  and 
who  cares ! 

BLANCHE.  It's  months  since  you  showed  me 
any  sign  of  affection,  and  now  when  my  heart  is 
hungrier  than  ever  for  it,  —  you  know  how  I  loved 
my  father,  —  I  long  for  sympathy  from  you,  and 
you  haven't  once  thought  to  take  me,  your  wife, 
in  your  arms  and  hold  me  close  and  comfort  me. 

STERLING.  I'm  sorry,  old  girl,  I'm  really  sorry. 
{Embracing  her  affectionately.]  And  surely  you 
know  I  don't  love  any  other  woman  in  the  world 
but  you.  [He  kisses  her.]  It's  only  because  I've 
been  terribly  worried.  I  don't  want  to  bother  you 


THE   CLIMBERS  59 

with  business,  but  I've  been  in  an  awful  hole  for 
money.  I  tried  to  make  a  big  coup  in  Wall  Street 
the  other  day  and  only  succeeded  getting  in  deeper, 
and  for  the  last  few  days  I've  been  nearly  distracted. 

BLANCHE.   Why  didn't  you  tell  me? 

STERLING.  I  thought  I'd  get  out  of  it  with  this 
Consolidated  Copper  without  worrying  you. 

BLANCHE.   You  were  in  that,  too? 

STERLING.   How  do  you  mean  I,  "too"? 

BLANCHE.  Mr.  Mason  has  just  told  us  father 
lost  everything  in  it. 

STERLING.  [Aghast.]  You  don't  mean  your 
father  hasn't  left  any  money? 

BLANCHE.   Nothing. 

STERLING.  [Forgetting  everything  but  what  this 
means  to  him.]  Nothing !  But  I  was  counting  on 
your  share  to  save  me !  What  did  the  damned 
old  fool  mean? 


60  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.   Dick! 

STERLING.  Forgive  me,  I  didn't  mean  to  say 
that. 

BLANCHE.  Oh,  who  are  you!  What  are  you! 
You  are  not  the  man  I  thought  when  I  married 
you!  Every  day  something  new  happens  to 
frighten  me,  to  threaten  my  love  for  you ! 

STERLING.  No,  no,  don't  say  that,  old  girl. 
[He  tries  to  take  her  hand. 

BLANCHE.  What  right  have  you  to  criticise 
my  father,  to  curse  him  —  and  to-day ! 

STERLING.  I  don't  know  what  I'm  saying, 
Blanche.  Try  to  forgive  me.  I  wouldn't  have 
thought  of  such  a  thing  as  his  money  to-day  if 
it  wasn't  the  only  thing  that  can  save  me  from 
—  disgrace. 

[His  -voice  sinking  almost  to  a  whisper  and  the 
man  himself  sinking  into  a  chair. 


THE   CLIMBERS  61 

BLANCHE.  Disgrace!  How?  What  disgrace? 

[Going  to  him. 

STERLING.  I  can't  explain  it ;  you  wouldn't 
understand. 

BLANCHE.  You  must  explain  it !  Your  dis- 
grace is  mine. 

STERLING.  [Alarmed  at  having  said  so  much, 
tries  to  retract  a  little.]  Disgrace  was  too  strong  a 
word — I  didn't  mean  that.  I'm  in  trouble.  I'm 
in  trouble.  Good  God,  can't  you  see  it?  And 
if  you  love  me,  why  don't  you  leave  me  alone? 

BLANCHE.  How  can  I  go  on  loving  you  without 
your  confidence  ?  —  without  ever  being  suffered 
to  give  you  any  sympathy  ?  Doll  wives  are  out  of 
fashion,  and  even  if  they  weren't,  I  could  never 
be  one. 

STERLING.  [Laughing.]  My  dear,  I'd  never 
accuse  you  of  being  stuffed  with  sawdust. 


62  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  Oh,  and  now  you  joke  about  it! 
Take  care,  Dick. 

STERLING.   What's  this,  a  threat? 

BLANCHE.  Yes,  if  you  like  to  call  it  that.  You've 
been  putting  me  more  and  more  completely  out 
of  your  life;  take  care  that  I  don't  finish  your  work 
and  go  the  last  step. 

STERLING.  [Seizing  her  roughly  by  the  wrist.] 
The  last  step!  What  do  you  mean  by  that? 
[Holding  her  hand  more  roughly.}  You  dare  to  be 
unfaithful  to  me! 

BLANCHE.  What!  You  could  think  I  meant 
that !  Ugh !  How  could  you  ? 

STERLING.   Well,  what  did  you  mean  then ?  Eh? 

[Pulling  her  up  close  to  him,  her  face  close  to 
his.  She  realizes  first  by  the  odor,  then  by  a 
searching  look  at  his  face,  that  he  is  partly 
under  the  influence  of  liquor. 


THE   CLIMBERS  63 

BLANCHE.  [With  pathetic  shame.]  Let  me  go! 
I  see  what's  the  matter  with  you,  but  the  reason  is 
no  excuse ;  you've  been  drinking. 

STERLING.  [Dropping  her  hand.]  Ugh!  The 
usual  whimper  of  a  woman ! 

[RUTH  reenters  Right. 

RUTH.  Well,  Blanche,  dear,  your  mother's  in 
a  calmer  frame  of  mind,  and  I  must  go.  Dick, 
can  you  lunch  with  me  to-morrow? 

STERLING.  [Hesitating,  not  caring  about  it.] 
Er  - —  to-morrow  ?  —  er  — 

RUTH.  Oh,  only  for  business.  I  must  have  a 
new  business  man  now  to  do  all  that  he  did  for  me, 
and  I'm  going  to  try  to  make  up  to  you  for  not 
having  been  always  your  —  best  friend,  by  putting 
my  affairs  in  your  hands. 

BLANCHE.  [Serious,  uneasy,  almost  frightened.] 
Aunt  Ruth  — 


64  THE    CLIMBERS 

[She  stops. 
RUTH.   What,  dear? 
BLANCHE.   Nothing. 

[She  gives  STERLING  a  searching,  steady  look  and 
keeps  her  eyes  upon  him,  trying  to  read  his 
real  self. 

RUTH.  [Continues  to  STERLING.]  Mr.  Mason  is 
coming  to  me  in  the  morning,  and  if  you  will  lunch 
with  me  at  one,  I  will  then  be  able  to  give  all  the 
papers  over  to  you. 

[STERLING,  who  up  to  this  time  has  been  almost 
dumbfounded  by  this  sudden  good  fortune,  now 
collects    himself,    and   speaks    delightedly   but 
with  sufficient  reserve  of  his  feelings.    BLANCHE 
does  not  take  her  eyes  from  STERLING'S  face. 
STERLING.  Aunt  Ruth,  I  thank  you  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart,  and  I  will  do  my  best. 
BLANCHE.   [Quickly.]  Promise  her,  Dick,  before 


THE   CLIMBERS  65 

me  —  give  her  your  word    of    honor  —  you  will 
be  faithful  to  Aunt  Ruth's  trust. 

[He  answers  BLANCHE'S  look  steadily  with  a 

hard  gaze  of  his  own. 

RUTH.   His  acceptance  of  my  trust  is  equal  to 
that,  Blanche. 

BLANCHE.   It  is  of  course,  isn't  it,  Dick  ? 
STERLING.   Of  course. 
[BLANCHE  is  not  content,  but  has  to  satisfy  herself 

with  this. 
RUTH.  To-morrow  at  one,  then. 

[She  starts  to  go. 
[JORDAN  enters  Left. 
JORDAN.  Mr.  Warden. 
RUTH.   I  can't  wait.     Good-by. 

[She  goes  out  Left. 

BLANCHE.   We  will  see  Mr.  Warden. 
JORDAN.  Yes,  madam. 

F 


66  THE   CLIMBERS 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

STERLING.  Blanche,  go  to  your  mother  and 
ask  her  to  see  Ned  to  thank  him.  I  want  a 
minute's  talk  with  him  if  you  don't  mind. 

BLANCHE.  [Pathetically.]  What  difference  does 
it  make,  Dick,  if  I  do  mind? 

STERLING.  Don't  say  that,  old  girl,  and  don't 
think  it. 

BLANCHE.   Dick,  you  are  honest,  aren't  you? 
STERLING.   [Without  flinching.]  What  a  ques- 
tion, Blanche! 

[JORDAN  enters  Left  announcing  "Mr.  Warden." 

WARDEN  enters,  and  JORDAN  goes  out. 
[EDWARD  WARDEN,  though  in  reality  scarcely 
younger  than  STERLING,  looks  at  least  ten 
years  his  junior.  He  is  good-looking,  practical, 
a  reasoning  being,  and  self-controlled.  He  is  a 
thorough  American,  with  the  fresh  and  strong 


THE   CLIMBERS  67 

ideals  of  his  race,   and  with  the  feeling  of 
romance  alive  in  the  bottom  of  his  heart. 

STERLING.  [In  enormous  relief,  greets  him 
joyfully.]  Ned,  what  do  you  think !  The  greatest 
news  going! 

BLANCHE.   Dick! 

STERLING.  Excuse  me,  Blanche,  I  forgot;  but 
Ned  will  know  how  I  can't  help  being  glad. 

[WARDEN  goes  to  MRS.  STERLING. 

BLANCHE.  [Shaking  NED'S  hand.]  And  Mr. 
Warden  knows  nothing  could  make  me  "glad" 
to-day.  Thank  you  for  all  your  kindness  — 

WARDEN.   Don't  thank  me ;  it  was  nothing. 

BLANCHE.  Yes,  please  let  me  thank  you  all  I 
can;  it  won't  be  half  what  I  feel,  but  I  want  to 
know  that  you  know  even  my  silence  is  full  of 
gratitude  for  all  you've  done  for  my  mother,  sisters, 
and  me. 


68  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.  Yes,  we're  all  immensely  indebted 
to  you,  Ned,  old  man. 

BLANCHE.  I  will  tell  mother.  I  know  she 
wants  to  see  you. 

[She  goes  out  Right. 

STERLING.  [Speaking  with  suppressed  excite- 
ment and  uncontrollable  gladness,  unable  to  keep 
it  back  any  longer.]  Ned,  my  wife's  aunt, 
Miss  Hunter,  has  put  all  her  business  in  my 
hands. 

WARDEN.   Made  you  her  agent? 

STERLING.  Yes !  What  a  godsend !  Hunter 
didn't  leave  a  cent. 

[A  moment's  pause  of  astonishment.] 

WARDEN.   What  do  you  mean? 

STERLING.  It  seems  he's  been  losing  for  a  long 
time.  Everything  he  had  he  lost  in  the  copper 
crash. 


THE   CLIMBERS  69 

WARDEN.  But  this  is  awful!  What  will  Mrs. 
Hunter  and  her  two  young  daughters  do? 

STERLING.  I  don't  know.  I  hadn't  thought  of 
that. 

WARDEN.   You'll*  have  to  think  of  it. 

STERLING.   I  ? 

WARDEN.    Of  course  you'll  have  to  help  them. 

STERLING.  I  can't!  Look  here,  I  didn't  tell 
you  the  truth  about  my  affairs  last  week,  when  I 
struck  you  for  that  loan. 

WARDEN.  You  don't  mean  to  say  you  weren't 
straight  with  me? 

STERLING.  Oh,  I  only  didn't  want  to  frighten 
you  till  I'd  got  the  money;  if  you  had  made  me  the 
loan,  I'd  have  owned  up  afterwards  all  right 
enough. 

WARDEN.   Owned  up  what? 

STERLING.  That  I   told  you  a  pack   of  lies! 


70  THE   CLIMBERS 

—  that  I  haven't  any  security !  —  that  I  haven't 
anything  but  debts. 

WARDEN.  [Strongly.]  Good  things  to  borrow 
on!  Look  here,  Dick,  how  long  have  we  been 
friends  ? 

STERLING.  Since  that  day  at  boarding  school 
when  you  took  a  licking  for  something  /  did. 

WARDEN.  What  I  mean  is  we  were  pals  at 
school,  chums  at  college,  stanch  friends  for 
twenty  years. 

STERLING.   Hell !    Are  we  as  old  as  all  that  ? 

WARDEN.  Inseparable  friends  till  the  last  two 
years. 

[STERLING'S  eyes  shift. 

STERLING.  I've  been  overworked  lately,  and 
everything  has  gone  wrong! 

WARDEN.  [Comes  up  to  him,  and  speaks  firmly 
but  still  friendly.]  You  yourself  have  gone  wrong! 


THE   CLIMBERS  71 

STERLING.   [On   the   defensive.]  What    do   you 
mean? 

WARDEN.   Why  did  you  take  your  business  out 
of  my  hands? 

STERLING.   The  law  didn't  pay  me  enough.    I 
thought  I'd  try  a  little  amateur  stockbroking. 

[Smiling  insincerely. 

WARDEN.  You  didn't  want  me  to  know  what 
you  were  doing! 

STERLING.  Rats! 

WARDEN.   You  didn't  want  me  to  know  what 
funds — whose  funds — you  were  using — wwusing. 

STERLING.  [Ugly.]  What! 

WARDEN.  Whose  money  you  were  gambling  with ! 

STERLING.  Have  you  been  spying  on  me? 

WARDEN.  Your  -wife's  money! 

STERLING.  Well,  she's  my  wife,  and  you  don't 
know  what  you're  talking  about! 


72  THE   CLIMBERS 

[He  turns  from  him  and  picks  up  a  book  from  the 
table  upside  down  and  pretends  to  read  it. 

WARDEN.  You  stole  from  me  once  when  you 
were  a  boy! 

STERLING.  No!    I  didn't! 

[Throwing  the  book  down. 

WARDEN.  You  lie!  Do  you  hear  me?  You 
lie!  [He  waits  a  second.  STERLING  does  nothing.] 
I  was  never  sure  till  to-day !  I  fought  against  ever 
thinking  it,  believing  my  suspicions  were  an  injus- 
tice to  you,  but  little  things  were  always  disappear- 
ing out  of  my  rooms  —  finally,  even  money. 
Lately,  that  old  suspicion  has  come  back  with  a 
fuller  force,  and  to-day  it  became  a  certainty. 

STERLING.  How  to-day? 

WARDEN.  Because  if  it  weren't  true,  you'd 
have  knocked  me  down  just  now  when  I  called 
you  first  a  thief  and  twice  a  liar! 


THE   CLIMBERS  73 

[He  stands  squarely  facing  him.  STERLING  stands 
facing  him  also,  surprised,  taken  off  his  guard. 

STERLING.  Oh,  come,  you're  joking !  [WARDEN 
makes  an  angry  exclamation.]  Why 're  you  telling 
me  all  this  now? 

WARDEN.  Because  I  want  you  to  be  careful. 
I  want  you  to  know  some  one  is  watching  you! 
Some  one  who  knows  what  you've  come  to  !  Some 
one  who  knows  you  can't  resist  temptation !  Some 
one  who  knows  money  not  yours  has  stuck  to  your 
fingers ! 

STERLING.  You  mind  your  own  business. 

WARDEN.  I'll  mind  yours  if  it's  necessary  to 
protect  people  who  are  dear  to  me ! 

[STERLING  looks  at  him  -with  a  sudden  suspicion. 

STERLING.  [Insinuatingly.]  I  didn't  know  you 
were  particularly  attached  to  Mrs.  Hunter. 

WARDEN.  I'm  not. 


74  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.   Or  to  her  two  unmarried  daughters ! 

WARDEN.  Nor  am  I ! 

STERLING.  [With  whispered  intensity.}  By  God, 
if  you  are  in  love  with  my  wife ! 

WARDEN.  If  you  thought  that  out  loud,  I'd 
knock  you  down ! 

STERLING.  Huh!  you  talk  as  if  you  thought  I 
were  a  coward! 

WARDEN.  No,  not  a  physical  coward  —  I've  seen 
you  do  too  many  plucky  things  —  but  a  moral 
coward  —  yes,  you  are  one ! 

[Straight  to  him,  standing  close  and  looking  him 
squarely  in  the  eyes. 

STERLING.  [Wavering.]  Oh,  you're  too  damned 
preachy ! 

[MRS.  HUNTER  enters  Right  with  CLARA.  MRS. 
HUNTER  shakes  hands  with  WARDEN  silently, 
happy  in  the  feeling  that  she  is  in  great  afflic- 


THE   CLIMBERS  75 

tion,  and   satisfied  with  the  appearance  and 
impression  she  is  making.     She  carries  her 
handkerchief,  with  its  black  border,   ready  in 
her  hand.     CLARA  has  silently  shaken  hands 
with  WARDEN,  after  her  mother.    She  after- 
wards goes  to  STERLING  and  hands  him  several 
of  the  letters  of  condolence.    She  then  goes  to 
the  window  at  Left,  pulling  aside  the  curtain, 
and  stands  looking  out,  rather  bored,  wishing 
she  could  go  out  and  take  a  walk. 
MRS.    HUNTER.   We    will    never    forget    your 
kindness.     Will  the  evening  papers  have  anything 
in,  do  you  think? 
WARDEN.   No,  not  before  morning. 
MRS.  HUNTER.   [Sighs.]  Every  one  was  there. 
STERLING.   Where's  Blanche? 
MRS.    HUNTER.   Upstairs.    She   said   she   was 
going  after  Aunt  Ruth. 


76  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.   [Frightened.]  After    Aunt    Ruth? 
[Strongly.]   What  for? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  don't  know.  [Whimpering.] 
I'm  not  considered  in  the  family  any 
longer ! 

STERLING.  I  shall  stop  and  take  her 
home. 

[JORDAN  enters. 

JORDAN.   Will  you  see   visitors,   madam? 

STERLING.  No. 

[He  goes  out  Right. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  "No"?  Yes,  we  will!  I  need 
to  see  some  one,  or  I  shall  break  down.  Go  up- 
stairs, Clara! 

CLARA.   No,  why  need  I? 

MRS.   HUNTER.   You're  not  out  yet. 

CLARA.  I  don't  care !  At  this  rate  I'll  never 
get  "out."  Who  are  they,  Jordan? 


THE   CLIMBERS  77 

JORDAN.   Miss    Sillerton,    Miss    Godesby,  and 
Mr.  Trotter,  miss. 

WARDEN.    I  must  go,  Mrs.  Hunter. 
MRS.   HUNTER.    [Relieved.]   So    sorry.      Could 
you  go  straight  to  Mr.  Mason?    He  wishes  to  see 
you? 

[Shaking  hands. 
WARDEN.    Certainly. 
MRS.  HUNTER.    Thank  you. 

[WARDEN  inclines  his  head  to  CLARA. 
CLARA.    [Lightly.]    Good-by! 

[WARDEN  goes  out  Left. 

MRS.  HUNTER.    I  don't  think  we  ought  to  re- 
ceive Mr.  Trotter. 

CLARA.    Pshaw!   why  not?     If  there's  really 
any  idea  of  my  mar — 

[She  stops  short,   silenced  by  a  look  from  her 
mother   and    an   indication   toward  JORDAN. 


78  THE   CLIMBERS 

MRS.  HUNTER.    Show  them  up,  Jordan.    [JOR- 
DAN bows  and  goes  out}    How  do  I  look,  dear? 
[Arranges  her  handkerchief. 
CLARA.    [Looking  in  the  mirror.]  How  do  I? 
MRS.  HUNTER.   [With  her  back  to  CLARA.]  I 
asked  you  first  how  7  looked ! 

CLARA.  [Not  observing.]  Oh,  you're  all  right; 
how  am  I? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Not  looking  at  CLARA.] 
Charming!  We'll  go  upstairs  and  come  down 
again;  I  don't  think  it  nice  to  be  found  here  as  if 
we  were  expecting  visitors. 

[They  go  out  Right. 

[JORDAN  steps  into  the  room  to  announce  the 
visitors,  and  seeing  no  one  there,  bows  as  the 
three  pass  him. 

JORDAN.  The  ladies  will  be  down  at  once. 
[He  goes  out  Right. 


THE   CLIMBERS  79 

[The  three  turn,  looking  about  the  room 
with  curiosity,  as  if  the  funeral  might  have 
made  some  difference  in  the  house. 

[Miss  SILLERTON  is  a  handsome,  attractive 
woman,  most  fashionably  dressed  and  per- 
fectly conventional  in  character  and  intelli- 
gence. Miss  GODESBY  is  a  little  slow,  more 
assertive,  sharper  of  tongue,  more  acutely 
intelligent,  and  equally  smartly  dressed.  She 
has  still  a  remnant  of  real,  sincere  feeling 
buried  under  a  cynical  mask  which  her  life 
in  a  fast  set  has  developed  for  her  self- 
preservation.  TROTTER  is  a  foolish  young 
person,  meaning  well  enough  according  to 
his  lights,  which  are  not  of  the  biggest  and 
brightest. 

TROTTER.   Classy  house  altogether! 

Miss   SILLERTON,  Mrs,   Hunter   went   to  the 


So  THE   CLIMBERS 

most  expensive  decorator  in  town,  and  told  him,  no 
matter  what  it  cost,  to  go  ahead  and  do  his  worst  1 

[They  all  laugh  and  seat  themselves  comfortably. 

TROTTER.  Say!  The  youngest  daughter  is  a 
good  looker  — very  classy. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  That's  the  one  we  told  you 
about,  the  one  we  want  you  to  marry. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Yes,  with  your  money  and  her 
cleverness,  she'll  rubber  neck  you  into  the  smartest 
push  in  town! 

TROTTER.  You've  promised  I  shall  know  the 
whole  classy  lot  before  spring. 

Miss  GODESBY.  So  you  will  if  you  do  as  we 
tell  you.  But  you  mustn't  let  society  see  that  you 
know  you're  getting  in ;  nothing  pleases  society 
so  much  as  to  think  you're  a  blatant  idiot.  It 
makes  everybody  feel  you're  their  equal  —  that's 
why  you  get  in. 


THE   CLIMBERS  81 

TROTTER.  I've  got  a  coach  and  can  drive  four- 
in-hand.  I've  an  automobile  drag,  and  the  biggest 
private  yacht  in  the  world  building.  I'm  going  to 
have  the  most  expensive  house  in  Long  Island, 
where  the  oysters  come  from,  and  I've  bought  a 
lot  in  Newport  twice  as  big  as  the  swellest  fellow's 
there.  I've  got  a  house  in  London  and  a  flat  in 
Paris,  and  I  make  money  fly.  I  think  I  ought  to 
be  a  cinch  at  a  classy  success. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Don't  be  a  yap;  flag  Clara 
Hunter  and  you're  all  right! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  Her  father's  position  was  the 
best  in  this  country! 

TROTTER.   But  he's  dead. 

[Sitting. 

Miss  GODESBY.  A  good  thing  for  you,  for  he 
would  never  have  stood  for  you! 

TROTTER.  He'd  have  had  to  —  or  do  without 


82  THE   CLIMBERS 

me  as  a  son-in-law  —  I  wouldn't  marry  the  Venus 
of  Milo  if  her  father  didn't  think  I  was  good 
enough.  I'm  no  Dodo  bird ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  It's  up  to  you  now,  Trotter! 
Go  in  and  win. 

[Enter    TOMPSON    Right ;    a    decided    change 
takes  place  in  all  their  manners. 

TOMPSON.  Madam  will  be  down  at  once, 
miss. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  Thank  you. 

[TOMPSON  goes  out  Right. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Only  stay  a  minute  or  two, 
Trotty  —  we're  doing  our  best  for  you,  but  we 
must  look  out  for  ourselves,  too,  and  we've  come 
here  to-day  on  business. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  How'll  we  ever  get  the  subject 
on  to  clothes? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Humph!     Do  you  think  you 


THE    CLIMBERS  83 

can  talk  five  minutes  with  Mrs.  Hunter  and  not 
hit  that  topic  ?  It's  a  bull's  eye ! 

TROTTER.  I  don't  see  where  I'm  going  to  come 
into  this  classy  conversation. 

Miss  GODESBY.  You  see,  Trotty,  they  brought 
over  piles  of  clothes  from  Europe  this  year,  and 
we  want  to  get  hold  of  them  before  any  one  else 
has  a  chance  —  get  'em  cheap  before  they  have  an 
idea  anybody  else'll  buy  them. 

TROTTER.   Who  buy  what? 

Miss  SILLERTON.  We  —  buy  their  winter  clothes. 

TROTTER.   For  Heaven's  sake! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Laugh,  you  silly!  I  heard 
the  Reed  girls  planning  to  come  to-morrow. 
They  didn't  dare  come  to-day.  Those  girls 
haven't  any  sand!  They're  always  getting 
left. 

TROTTER.  You  two  are  Dodo  birds! 


84  THE    CLIMBERS 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  say,  Eleanor,  you're  such  a 
lobster  about  prices  and  Mrs.  Hunter's  no  idiot, 
we'd  better  agree  on  some  sort  of  a  signal !  Listen ! 
if  you  like  a  gown  very  much,  ask  the  price,  then 
say  to  me,  "My  dear,  your  hat  pin  is  coming  out." 
And  if  I  think  it's  a  bargain,  I'll  say,  "So  it  is, 
thank  you  ;  won't  you  put  it  in  for  me  ? "  And  if 
I  think  Mrs.  Hunter's  trying  to  stick  you,  I'll 
say  "No,  it  isn't  ;  it's  always  like  that." 

MlSS    SlLLERTON.    All    right. 

[MRS.  HUNTER  and,  CLARA  enter  Right.  The 
manner  of  Miss  SILLERTON  and  Miss  GODESBY 
changes  immediately.  They  speak  with  rather 
subdued  voices,  in  the  tone  of  conventional 
sympathy  which  is  usually  adopted  on  such 
occasions.  MRS.  HUNTER  also  assumes  the 
manner  of  a  martyr  to  grief.  CLARA  is  casual 
and  hard. 


THE   CLIMBERS  85 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Shakes  hands  with  MRS. 
HUNTER.]  Dear  Mrs.  Hunter. 

[She  kisses  her. 
Clara,  dear. 

[She  kisses  her. 

[Miss    GODESBY  goes   to  MRS.   HUNTER    and 

shakes  hands  while  Miss  SILLERTON  crosses 

to  CLARA  ;  Trotter  shakes  hands   with  MRS. 

HUNTER  as  Miss  GODESBY  goes  to  CLARA. 

TROTTER.   I  hope  you  don't  think  my  coming 

an  intrusion. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Not  at  all. 
Miss  GODESBY.  I  felt  we  must  stop  in  for  a 
few  minutes  to  give  you  our  love  and  sympathy 
and  find  out  how  you  are. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I've  been  through  a  terrible 
strain.  My  loss  is  even  greater  than  I  could  ever 
possibly  imagine. 


THE   CLIMBERS 

CLARA.  [Who  misinterprets  her  mother's  re- 
mark.] Yes,  indeed,  I  should  say  it  was ! 

[MRS.  HUNTER  stops  her  with  a  warning 
look. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  But  every  one  has  been  most 
kind.  Lady  Hopeton  sent  me  a  beautiful  long 
letter  to-day. 

Miss  GODESBY.  And  I'm  glad  to  find  you  look- 
ing so  well.  Black  suits  you ! 

[She  exchanges   a  knowing  glance  with  Miss 

SlLLERTON. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Oh,  I  don't  know,  Julia;  I've 
always  thought  black  very  trying  for  me. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  no  I  every  one's  saying 
just  the  reverse! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  But  —  I  suppose  clothes  don't 
interest  you,  Mr.  Trotter? 

TROTTER.   Oh,  yes,  they  do,  out  of  sight ! 


THE    CLIMBERS  87 

CLARA.  Well,  I  wish  you  could  have  seen  the 
beautiful  things  we  brought  over  with  us ! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  Julia  and  I  were  just  speaking 
about  it,  and  pitying  you  from  the  bottom  of  our 
hearts. 

[Miss  SILLERTON  and  Miss  GODESBY  again 
exchange  surreptitious  glances. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Every  one's  been  most  kind. 
[There  is  an  awkward  pause  /or  a  moment,  no  one 
knowing  quite  what  to  say.  Both  Miss  GODESBY 
and  Miss  SILLERTON  have  started  the  conversation 
in  the  direction  of  clothing  and  are  fearful  of  the 
topic  being  changed.  As  the  pause  becomes  em- 
barrassing, they  look  helplessly  from  one  to  the  other, 
and  all  five,  suddenly  and  at  once,  make  an  in- 
effectual effort  to  say  something  —  or  nothing. 
Out  of  the  general  confusion  MRS.  HUNTER 
comes  to  the  front,  mistress  of  the  situation.]  Are 


88  THE   CLIMBERS 

you  going  to  stay  in  New  York  this  winter,  Mr. 
Trotter  ? 

TROTTER.  Yes,  I'm  negotiating  for  one  of  the 
biggest  classy  building  plots  on  upper  Fifth 
Avenue. 

CLARA.  [To  Miss  GODESBY.]  I  saw  in  the 
papers  you  were  at  the  dance  last  night. 

[Miss  GODESBY  nods  and  motions  surreptitiously 
to  TROTTER  to  go.  He,  however,  doesn't 
understand. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [With  interest  again  in  life.] 
Oh,  were  you?  What  did  you  wear? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  dowdy  old  things.  I 
haven't  bought  my  winter  frocks  yet. 

[She  repeats  this  casually  as  if  to  herself. 
[Miss   SILLERTON  motions  to  TROTTER  to  go, 
but  he  has  forgotten  and  still  doesn't  under- 
stand. 


THE   CLIMBERS  89 

TROTTER.  What? 

Miss  GODESBY.  You  warned  us  not  to  let  you 
forget  your  engagement ! 

TROTTER.   What  engagement? 

Miss  SILLERTON.  How  do  we  know!  we  only 
know  you  said  you  had  to  go! 

TROTTER.   Never  said  so!     Oh!   [As  it  dawns 

upon  him.]  Oh,  yes !   of  course.    [He  rises.]    Very 

sorry  —  must   be    off.     Only  dropped  in  —  er  — 

that  is,  came  in  to  express  my  respectful  sympathy. 

[Shaking  hands  with  MRS.  HUNTER. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Who  rises.]  I  hope  you  will 
come  and  see  us  again. 

CLARA.  Do!  It'll  be  a  godsend!  We'll  be 
dull  as  ditchwater  here  this  winter! 

TROTTER.  I  shall  be  delighted  to  call  again. 
Good-by.  [He  bows  to  Clara.  In  his  embarrass- 
ment he  starts  to  shake  hands  all  over  again,  but, 


90  THE    CLIMBERS 

realizing  his  mistake,  laughs  nervously.]  Oh,  I 
have  already. 

Miss  SILLERTON.    Good-by,  Trotter. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Don't  forget  we're  booked 
with  you  at  Sherry's. 

TROTTER.   Whose  treat? 

Miss  GODESBY.   Oh !     Yours,  of  course  — 

TROTTER.  I  say,  why  can't  I  stay?  I  won't 
interfere. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh,  do  stay,  Mr.  Trotter! 

Miss  GODESBY.   Oh,  do  stay! 

[Suggesting  by  her  tone  that  he  mustn't  dare  to 
remain. 

CLARA.  Good! 

[TROTTER  remains,  and  they  all  settle  themselves 
again  for  a  long  stay. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  By  the  way,  you  were  speaking 
just  now  of  your  winter  frocks.  It  occurs  to  me  — 


THE    CLIMBERS  91 

of  course  I  don't  know  as  I  really  want  to  dispose 
of  them,  but  —  er  — 

[She  hesitates  purposely. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  would  you  ?  [Rising,  she 
takes  a  chair  nearer  to  MRS.  HUNTER.]  You  dear 
thing ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  The  dresses  are  no  use  to  us 
now,  and  when  we're  out  of  mourning  —  they'll 
be  out  of  style.  You  could  wear  Jess'  things 
perfectly,  Julia. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  And  even  something  of  yours 
could  be  made  over  for  us. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  But  I'm  so  much  older  than 
you ! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Thoughtlessly.}  Yes,  but  you 
never  dress  appropriately  to  your  age. 

CLARA.  [Laughing  delightedly.}  That's  pretty 
good ! 


92  THE   CLIMBERS 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Saves  herself.]  You  know 
what  I  mean,  you  always  look  so  youthful,  you 
can't  dress  any  older. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Rising.]  Clara,  dear,  go  up- 
stairs and  have  Tompson  bring  down  my  Worth 
dress  and  Jess'  Doucet  and  your  Paquin.  [She 
goes  with  CLARA  to  the  door,  Right,  and  then  -whis- 
pers to  her.]  If  you  remember,  don't  tell  what  we 
paid — we  ought  to  get  nearly  double  out  of  these 
girls  —  and  warn  Tompson  not  to  be  surprised  at 
anything  she  hears. 

[Miss  GODESBY  and  Miss  SILLERTON  exchange 
glances.  CLARA  goes  out  Right. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  It  seems  as  if  I  had  no  further 
interest  in  clothes,  anyway. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Don't  say  that.  Every  one 
I've  seen  this  afternoon  is  wildly  enthusiastic 
over  your  mourning. 


THE   CLIMBERS  93 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Well,  I  went  straight  to  Madame 
O'Hoolihan  and  gave  her  carte  blank ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  wouldn't  like  to  be  the  ice 
man  when  your  bill  comes  in !  —  and  clothes 
abroad  are  so  much  cheaper. 

MRS.   HUNTER.   [Thoughtlessly.]   Oh,  half! 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Quickly.]  You  see  you'll  be 
doing  us  a  really  great  favor  letting  us  have 
some  of  your  things! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Realizing  her  nearly  fatal 
error.}  Oh !  Oh,  yes  —  but  —  er  —  I  must  say 
that  we  found  prices  while  in  Paris  this  year 
rather  atrocious! 

[CLARA  reenters  Right. 

CLARA.  [Sighs.]  O  dear!  It  breaks  my 
heart  not  to  wear  my  ball  dress,  my  dear  Julia; 
it  was  designed  specially  for  me.  I  told  Marie 
to  put  it  on,  mama;  my  clothes  fit  her  perfectly, 


94  THE    CLIMBERS 

and  I  thought  it  would  show  so  much  better  what 
it  is. 
MRS.  HUNTER.   Here  they  are. 

[Rises  as  TOMPSON  enters  Right. 
TOMPSON.   Mrs.  Hunter's  reception  gown. 

[Displaying  it. 

CLARA.   Oh,  this  is  a  beauty! 
[She   takes  the  costume    and  drapes  it  over  a 
chair.    Miss   GODESBY    and    Miss    SILLER- 
TON  come  closer  to  examine. 
MRS.    HUNTER.    Tompson.  —  [Taking    her    to 
one  side,  whispers.]  —  I  forget;   do  you  remember 
what  I  paid  for  this  dress? 

TOMPSON.  [Whispers  lack.]  One  hundred  and 
sixty  dollars,  madam. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Oh,  yes.  Don't  say  any- 
thing. [Returning  to  the  others.]  Do  you 
like  it? 


THE   CLIMBERS  95 

Miss  SILLERTON.   Perfectly  lovely !        \  [At  the 

J-    same 
Miss  GODESBY.   Immensely.   It's  great  lj     nm6t 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Hesitates.]  I  forget  just  what  I 
paid  for  it,  but  I  believe  it  was  two  hundred  dollars. 

[CLARA  halj  exclaims  in  astonishment,  but  on 
being  pinched  surreptitiously  on  the  arm  by 
MRS.  HUNTER  she  grasps  the  situation  and 
starts  in  to  do  her  share. 

CLARA.  Oh,  no,  mama  1  I'm  sure  it  was  more 
than  that! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Well,  perhaps  it  was  two  — 
twenty  or  two  —  twenty-five. 

TROTTER.   That's  cheap,  isn't  it? 

Miss  GODESBY.   Shut  up. 

[TOMPSON'S  face  is  always  a  perfect  blank, 
showing  no  expression  or  surprise;  she  has 
lived  with  MRS.  HUNTER  for  many  years  and 
"knows  her  business." 


96  THE    CLIMBERS 

Miss  GODESBY.  [In  a  very  different  tone  0} 
voice,  influenced  by  the  big  price.}  Of  course,  I 
see  it's  made  of  the  best  material.  But  it  isn't 
my  color. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   It's  the  very  latest  shade. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Yes,  I  know;  but  I  think  as 
you  said  a  little  while  ago,  perhaps  it  is  a  trifle 
too  old  for  me. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  might  let  you  have  it  for  a 
little  less;  say  one  hundred  and  eighty. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Thank  you  very  much.  I'll 
think  it  over. 

Miss  SILLERTON.   What's  the  other? 

CLARA.   This  is  a  dinner  dress  of  Jess'. 

[Holding  it  up  to  her  own  waist. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Carried  away  by  the  dress.] 
Oh,  lovely,  —  perfectly  charming,  —  an  adorable 
gown! 


THE   CLIMBERS  97 

[Miss  GODESBY  pulls  her  arm  and,  tries  to  make 
her  less  enthusiastic. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [To  CLARA  and  MRS.  HUNTER.] 
Excuse  me. 

[She  takes  Miss  SILLERTON  to  one  side  and  -whis- 
pers in  her  ear. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Aloud.]  I  can't  help  it. 
I'm  crazy  about  the  dress! 

[Meanwhile  MRS.  HUNTER  and  TOMPSON  have 
whispered  together. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  They  said  themselves  this  was 
the  most  successful  frock  they  turned  out  this 
autumn. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  And  how  much  is  this  one? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Very  quickly,  trying  not  to 
speak  consciously.]  This  was  two  hundred  and 
seventy-five. 

[CLARA  bites  her  lips  in  surprise  and  winks 


98  THE    CLIMBERS 

visibly  to  TOMPSON,  -who  gives  no  sign  and  is 
otherwise  imperturbable. 

MlSS    SlLLERTON.     [To   MlSS    GODESBY,   looking 

hard  at  her.]   My  dear,  your  hat  pin  is  coming  out ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Looking  hard  at  her.]  No, 
it  isn't;  it's  always  like  that. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [Going  closer  to  her,  whispers.] 
Which  does  that  mean?  I  forget! 

Miss  GODESBY.  It's  a  gouge! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  I  can't  help  it  ;  I  can't 
resist. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Whispers  to  CLARA.]  She's 
going  to  take  it;  I  wish  I'd  asked  more. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  Mrs.  Hunter,  I'll  take  the 
dinner  dress!  I'm  crazy  about  it! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I'm  glad  to  have  you  have  it; 
I'm  glad  to  be  able  to  do  you,  in  a  way,  a  favor. 

[MARIE  at    this  moment  enters  dressed  in  the 


THE   CLIMBERS  99 

most  exquisite  ball  dress  of  the  very  latest 
fashion  and  looks  extremely  lovely. 

CLARA.  Here's  mine !  I  could  cry  to  think 
I'll  never  wear  it ! 

MARIE.    Voila,  madame! 

[A  short  silence,  while  the  women  sit  down  and 
drink  in  the  gown. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  [In  a  subdued  voice  of  awed 
admiration.]  Beautiful! 

Miss  GODESBY.   Great! 

TROTTER.  [To  Miss  GODESBY.]  Pm  stuck  on 
the  girl;  introduce  me !  She's  out  of  sight ! 

[MRS.  HUNTER  sighs  long  and  loud,  —  a  sigh  of 
appreciation  and  admiration.  MARIE  stands 
in  the  centre  of  the  stage  facing  the 
audience. 

Miss  GODESBY.  May  we  see  her  back? 

CLARA.  Her  entire  back,  if  she  turns  around  1 


ioo  THE   CLIMBERS 

% 
MRS.  HUNTER.   Turn  around,  Marie. 

MARIE.  Oui,  madame. 

[She  turns  her  back  —  the  dress  is  cut  extremely 
in  the  back. 

MlSS   SlLLERTON.     Oh! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Rather! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  The  way  everything  is  made 
this  year. 

Miss  GODESBY.  I'm  afraid  my  back  is  rather 
full  of  bones. 

CLARA.  They  told  us  in  Paris,  bones  were 
coming  in!  [She  takes  a  large  American  beauty 
rose  from  a  vase  on  the  piano  and  slips  it  down 
MARIE'S  back  so  that  the  dress  seems  much  less 
dtcollete.]  There,  never  too  late  to  mend ! 

Miss  GODESBY.   How  much  is  this  one? 

[Miss  GODESBY  and  Miss  SILLERTON  examine 
the  dress. 


THE   CLIMBERS  101 

CLARA.  [Whispers  to  MRS.  HUNTER.]  You  paid 
two  hundred  for  it! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Three  hundred  dollars.  It  is 
really  superb. 

MlSS      SlLLERTON.     [Putting      MlSS       GODESBY 

around  quickly.}  My  dear,  your  hat  pin  is  coming 
out! 

Miss  GODESBY.   Don't  be  absurd! 

Miss  SILLERTON.   What? 

Miss  GODESBY.  It's  my  turn,  sit  down;  you 
got  the  last!  You  won't  mind  my  being  frank, 
Mrs.  Hunter? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [On  the  defensive.]  Certainly 
not. 

Miss  GODESBY.   I  think  the  price  is  too  much. 

TROTTER.    Oh,  go  on,  pay  it! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Will  you  sign  the  check? 

TROTTER.  Excuse  me! 


102  THE   CLIMBERS 

CLARA.  I'd  give  twice  that  if  only  I  could  wear 
it  to  one  ball  this  winter! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  wouldn't  part  with  it  for  a 
penny  less.  I  couldn't  afford  to. 

[The  manners  and  voices  of  all  become  a  little 
strained. 

Miss  GODESBY.   That  is  of  course  your  affair. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Politely.]  We  needn't  keep 
Marie  any  longer,  at  any  rate,  need  we?  You 
can  go,  Marie,  and  you  too,  Tompson. 

[C.LARA  and  MRS.  HUNTER  help  place  the  other 
dresses  on  TOMPSON'S  arms. 

MlSS    SlLLERTON.    [To    MlSS    GODESBY,    OU   the 

opposite  side  of  the  room,  in  a  lowered  voice.]  I'll 
take  it;  I'm  willing  to  pay  that. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Don't  you  dare  interfere!  I 
want  the  gown,  but  I  know  she'll  come  down,  — 
if  she  doesn't,  I'll  make  a  bluff  at  going.  Then 


THE   CLIMBERS  103 

if  she  sticks  to  her  price,  I'll  come  back  and 
pay  it. 

[They  turn  to  MRS.  HUNTER. 
Miss  SILLERTON.    Oh,  Mrs.  Hunter,  may  I  see 
my  dress  just  one  more  minute? 
MRS.  HUNTER.    Certainly. 

[She  and  CLARA  come  back  with  the  dress. 

MARIE.   [To  TOMPSON  by  the  door  at  Right.] 

Vile  I     Come !     Come !     Jordan      'ave    stole    ze 

photograph  machine  of  Mees  Clara,  and  he  make 

now  one  pigsher  of  me  in  ze  dress ! 

[Smiling     mischievously,    delighted,    she    goes 

out  Right. 
Miss  SILLERTON.   Thank  you. 

[She  leaves  her  dress. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Take  this  too,  Tompson. 
TOMPSON.  Yes,  madam. 
[MRS.  HUNTER  speaks  to  TOMPSON,  aside,  and 


t04  THE    CLIMBERS 

CLARA,  near  them,  watches  the  two  visitors  out 
of  the  corner  of  her  eye. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Aside  to  Miss  SILLERTON.] 
I'll  leave  my  muff;  that'll  be  a  good  excuse  to  come 
back. 

TROTTER.  [Also  in  a  lowered  voice  to  Miss 
GODESBY.  ]  Dodo ! 

[TOMPSON  goes  out  Right. 
[MRS.  HUNTER  and  CLARA  come  back. 
Miss  GODESBY.   You  really  couldn't  take  less 
than  three  hundred? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   I  wish  I  could  if  only  for  your 
own  sake;  but  I  really  couldn't  in  justice  to  myself. 
Miss    GODESBY.   I'm    very    sorry  —  and    I'm 
afraid  we  must  be  going  now. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Not  believing  they  will  go.] 
Oh,  must  you?  Well,  it  was  very  kind  of  you  to 
come. 


THE   CLIMBERS  105 

[Miss  GODESBY  leaves  her  muff  upon  the  table 

at  the  Left. 

Miss    SILLERTON.   [Shakes    hands    with    MRS. 
HUNTER.]   Good-by. 

[She  goes  on  to  CLARA. 
[Miss    GODESBY   comes   to   shake   hands   with 

MRS.  HUNTER. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   I  think  you're  making  a  mis- 
take not  to  take  the  dress,  Julia  dear. 

Miss    GODESBY.   Perhaps,    but   I   really   can't 
go  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty. 

[MRS.  HUNTER  looks  surreptitiously  at  CLARA, 
who  slyly  shakes  her  head  to  her 
mother. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh,  quite  impossible! 
Miss  GODESBY.   Good-by. 
MRS.  HUNTER.    Good-by. 
Miss  GODESBY.   Good-by,  Clara. 


106  THE   CLIMBERS 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Frightened.]  Would  you  like 
to  see  the  dress  off  ? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  my  dear,  it  was  as  off  as  I 
would  ever  like  to  see  it.  Good-by. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Good-by.  [Miss  SILLERTON  and 
Miss  GODESBY  get  to  doorway  Left.]  You  won't 
take  it? 

Miss  GODESBY.   Can't!    Good-by. 

CLARA.    [Dryly.]   You're  forgetting  your  muff! 

TROTTER.   Rubber! 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Coming  back  for  it.]  How 
stupid ! 

[She  goes  away  to  the  door  again  in  silence, 
which  is  full  of  suspense  for  all  of  them.  As 
she  reaches  the  door  MRS.  HUNTER  speaks. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Look  here,  Julia,  don't  say 
another  word;  you  shall  have  the  dress  for  two 
hundred  and  fifty. 


THE    CLIMBERS  107 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Rushing  back,  followed  by 
all  the  others.]  You  dear!  I'm  afraid  you  think 
I've  been  rather  nasty ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Oh,  no,  of  course  business  is 
business,  and  I'd  rather  you  had  it  than  see  it 
wasted  on  some  of  our  other  friends  who'd  be 
sights  in  it! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  Good-by.  [Kisses  her  this 
time.]  I  haven't  said  half  I  feel;  you've  been  in 
my  thoughts  all  these  last  few  days. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Thank  you,  dear. 

[Kisses  her. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Shall  we  send  around  for  the 
dresses  in  the  morning? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Or  I'll  send  them. 

Miss  GODESBY.   No,  we  won't  trouble  you. 

Miss  SILLERTON.   Good-by! 

MRS.  HUNTER  AND  CLARA.   Good-by! 


io8  THE   CLIMBERS 

[Miss  SILLERTON  and  Miss  GODESBY  go  out 
Left,  followed  by  TROTTER,  who  has  joined  in 
all  the  good-bys,  and  upon  whom  CLARA  has 
more  or  less  continuously  kept  her  "weather 
eye." 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I'm  perfectly  sure  if  I'd  stuck 
to  three  hundred,  Julia  Godesby  would  have  sent 
around  when  she  got  home  and  paid  it! 

CLARA.  I'm  glad  you  didn't  run  the  risk  though, 
for  we'll  need  every  cent  we  can  get  now. 

[She  runs  her  fingers  rapidly  over  the  piano  keys. 
[BLANCHE  reenters  Right. 
MRS.    HUNTER.  Why,  I    thought   you'd   gone 
long  ago. 

BLANCHE.  Jess  begged  me  to  stay  with  her. 
Try  to  understand  her,  mother;  I  think  she  will 
miss  father  more  than  any  of  us: 

[JORDAN  enters  Left. 


THE   CLIMBERS  109 

JORDAN.  Mr.  Warden  has  come  back,  madam. 
[WARDEN  enters  Left. 

WARDEN.  Forgive  my  intruding  so  soon  again, 
but  did  Mr.  Mason  leave  a  letter  case  of  Mr. 
Hunter's  here? 

[BLANCHE  begins  looking  for  the  case. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  haven't  seen  it;  I'll  ask  the 

servants  to  look.     Excuse  me,  I'm  quite  tired  out; 

we've  been  receiving  a  long  visit  of  condolence. 

[She  goes  out,  Right,  with  CLARA,  who  links  her 

arm  in  her  mother's. 

BLANCHE.  [Finding  the  case,  which  has  fallen 
beneath  the  table.]  Here  it  is.  Dear  old  pocket- 
book - 

[Her  voice  breaks  on  the  last  word,  and  turning 
her  face  away  to  hide  her  tears,  she  hands  him 
the  well-worn  letter  case. 
WARDEN.  Mrs.  Sterling,  I'm  glad  they  left  us 


no  THE    CLIMBERS 

alone,  because  Mr.  Mason  said  he  hadn't  been 
able  to  manage  it  —  to  see  you  alone  —  and  yet  he 
wanted  you  only  to  examine  these.  They  are 
private  papers  of  Mr.  Hunter;  he  thought  they 
ought  not  to  be  destroyed  without  being  read,  and 
yet  he  hesitated  to  read  them.  We  thought  that  duty 
devolved  best  upon  you.  [He  hands  back  the  letter 
case.}  Shall  I  wait  and  take  back  the  case  to  Mr. 
Mason  with  the  papers  you  wish  him  to  have? 

BLANCHE.  Oh,  no,  I  will  send  them;  I  mustn't 
keep  you  while  I  read  them.  I'm  always  taking 
more  of  your  time  than  I  ought. 

WARDEN.  [Speaks  with  sincerity,  but  without 
any  suggestion  of  love-making.]  But  never  as  much 
as  I  want  to  give  you !  Don't  forget,  Mrs.  Sterling, 
what  you  promised  me  at  your  wedding,  —  that 
your  husband's  best  man  should  be  your  best 
friend. 


THE   CLIMBERS  in 

BLANCHE.  And  nobody  knows  what  it  means  to 
a  woman,  even  a  happily  married  woman  like  me 
—  [  This  is  spoken  with  a  slight  effort,  as  if 
she  is  persuading  herself  that  she  is  a  happily 
married  woman.]  —  to  have  an  honest  friend  like 
you.  It's  those  people  who  have  failed  that  say 
there  is  no  such  thing  as  a  platonic  friendship. 

WARDEN.   We'll  prove  them  wrong. 

BLANCHE.   We  will.     Good-by,  and  thank  you. 

WARDEN.  And  thank  you!  [Starting  to  go,  he 
turns.]  Shall  I  bring  that  Russian  pianist  around 
to  play  for  you  some  day  next  week? 

BLANCHE.   Do  —  I  want  some  music. 

WARDEN.  Only  let  me  know  what  day.  [He 
goes  out  Left.  BLANCHE  sits  by  the  table  and  opens 
the  case.  She  looks  first  at  a  memoranda  and 
reads  what  is  on  the  outside.]  A  business  memo- 
randa. Lists  of  bonds.  [She  opens  and  looks  at 


112  THE    CLIMBERS 

the  next  paper  only  a  second,  and  then  closes  it.] 
This,  Mr.  Mason  will  understand  better  than  I. 
[She  puts  it  back  in  the  pocket  case.  She  finds  a 
photograph  in  the  case.]  My  picture!  —  [She  looks 
for  others,  but  finds  none.] — and  only  mine!  Oh, 
father !  .  .  .  [She  wipes  away  tears  from  her  eyes 
so  as  to  see  the  picture,  which  is  an  old  one.] 
Father,  I  returned  your  love.  [She  reads  on  the 
back  of  photograph.]  "Blanche,  my  darling 
daughter,  at  fourteen  years  of  age ! "  That's 
mine!  that's  my  own!  [And  she  puts  the  picture 
away  separately.  She  takes  up  a  small  packet  of 
very  old  love-letters  tied  with  faded  old  pink  tape.] 
Old  letters  from  mother;  they  must  be  her  love- 
letters.  She  shall  have  them,  —  they  may  soften  her. 
[She  takes  up  a  slip  of  paper  and  reads  on  the  out- 
side.] This  is  something  for  Mason,  too.  [She  puts 
it  back  in  the  case.  She  takes  up  a  sealed  envelope, 


THE    CLIMBERS  113 

blank.]  Nothing  on  it,  and  sealed.  [She  looks  at  it  a 
moment,  thinking.]  Father,  did  you  want  this 
opened?  If  you  didn't,  why  not  have  destroyed 
it  ?  Ah !  I  needn't  be  afraid ;  you  had  nothing  to 
hide  from  the  world.  [Tearing  it  open,  she  reads.] 
"I  have  discovered  my  son-in-law,  Richard  Sterling, 
in  irregular  business  dealing.  He  is  not  honest. 
I  will  watch  him  as  long  as  I  live;  but  when  you 
read  this,  Mason,  keep  your  eye  upon  him  for  my 
daughter's  sake.  He  has  been  warned  by  me — 
he  may  never  trip  again,  and  her  happiness  lies 
in  ignorance."  [She  starts,  and  looks  about 
her  to  make  sure  she  is  alone.  She  then  sits  star- 
ing ahead  for  a  jew  seconds ;  then  she  speaks.] 
My  boy's  father  dishonest !  Disgrace  —  he  owned 
it  —  threatening  my  boy!  It  mustn't  come! 
It  mustn't !  /'//  watch  now.  [She  goes  to  the  fire- 
place, tearing  the  paper  as  she  crosses  the  room ; 
i 


II4  THE    CLIMBERS 

she  burns  the  letter;  then  she  gathers  up  the  other 
letters  and  the  pocket  case.}  He  must  give  me  his 
word  of  honor  over  Richard's  little  bed  to-night 
that  he  will  do  nothing  to  ever  make  the  boy 
ashamed  of  bearing  his  father's  name! 

[She  watches  to  see  that  every  piece  of  the  paper 
burns,  as 

THE  CURTAIN  FALLS 


ACT  II 

Christmas  Eve;  fourteen  months  later;  the 
dining  room  of  the  Hunters'  house,  which  is 
now  lived  in  jointly  by  the  STERLINGS  and 
MRS.  HUNTER  and  her  daughters.  It  is 
a  dark  wainscoted  room,  with  curtains  of 
crimson  brocade.  It  is  decorated  with  laurel 
roping,  mistletoe,  and  holly,  for  Christ- 
mas. It  is  the  end  of  a  successful  din- 
ner party,  fourteen  happy  and  more  or  less 
congenial  persons  being  seated  at  a  table,  as 
follows:  WARDEN,  RUTH,  MASON,  CLARA, 
TROTTER,  MRS.  HUNTER,  BLANCHE,  STERLING, 

MlSS      SlLLERTON,      MR.       GODESBY,      JESSICA, 

DOCTOR  STEINHART,  and  Miss  GODESBY.    The 
"5 


Il6  THE   CLIMBERS 

room  is  dark  on  all  sides,  only  a  subdued  light  being 
shed  on  the  table  by  two  large,  full  candelabra 
with  red  shaded  candles.  As  the  curtain  rises 
the  bare  backs  of  the  three  women  nearest  the 
footlights  gleam  out  white.  Candied  fruit  and 
other  sweetmeats  are  being  passed  by  four  men 
servants,  including  JORDAN  and  LEONARD. 

RUTH.   My  dear  Blanche,  what  delicious  candy  1 

Miss  SILLERTON.   Isn't  it! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Half  of  the  candy  offered  one 
nowadays  seems  made  of  papier-mdche. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [To  Miss  GODESBY.]  Julia, 
do  tell  me  how  Mr.  Tomlins  takes  his  wife's 
divorce  ? 

Miss  GODESBY.   He  takes  it  with  a  grain  of  salt ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  But  isn't  he  going  to  bring  a 
counter  suit? 


THE   CLIMBERS  117 

STERLING.  No. 

RUTH.  I  hope  not.  I  am  an  old-fashioned 
woman  and  don't  believe  in  divorce! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Really!  But  then  you're  not 
married ! 

Miss  SILLERTON.  What  is  the  reason  for  so 
much  divorce  nowadays? 

RUTH.   Marriage  is  the  principal  one. 

BLANCHE.   I  don't  believe  in  divorce,  either. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  My  dear,  no  woman  married 
to  as  handsome  a  man  as  Mr.  Sterling  would. 

TROTTER.  You  people  are  all  out  of  date! 
More  people  get  divorced  nowadays  than  get 
married. 

BLANCHE.  Too  many  people  do  —  that's  the 
trouble.  I  meant  what  I  said  when  I  was  married 
—  "for  better,  for  worse,  till  death  us  do  part."  — 
What  is  the  opera  Monday? 


n8  THE   CLIMBERS 

TROTTER.  Something  of  Wagner's.  He's  a 
Dodo  bird !  Bores  me  to  death !  Not  catchy 
enough  music  for  me. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  You'd  adore  him  if  you  went 
to  Bayreuth.  Which  was  that  opera,  Clara,  we 
heard  at  Bayreuth  last  summer?  Was  it  Faust 
or  Lohengrin!  They  play  those  two  so  much 
here  I'm  always  getting  them  mixed! 

Miss  SILLERTON,   Wagner  didn't  write  Faust  I 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Didn't  he?  I  thought  he  had; 
he's  written  so  many  operas  the  last  few  seasons ! 

CLARA.  I  like  Tannhauser,  because  as  soon 
as  you  hear  the  "twinkle,  twinkle,  little  stars" 
song,  you  can  cheer  up  and  think  of  your  wraps 
and  fur  boots.  • 

TROTTER.  My  favorite  operas  are  San  Toy 
and  the  Roger  Brothers,  though  I  saw  Florodora 
thirty-six  times!  .  :;';...  :..  •-.... 


THE   CLIMBERS  119 

BLANCHE.  Mother  would  have  gone  with  you 
every  one  of  those  thirty-six  Florodora  times. 
She's  not  really  fond  of  music. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Not  fond  of  music !  Didn't 
I  have  an  opera  box  for  four  years? 

TROTTER.  Why  doesn't  Conried  make  some 
arrangement  with  Weber  and  Fields  and  introduce 
their  chorus  into  Faust  and  Carmen? 

DR.  STEINHART.  Great  idea !  [To  Miss 
GODESBY.]  Did  you  get  a  lot  of  jolly 
presents  ? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Not  half  bad,  especially  two 
fine  French  bulls! 

[All  are  laughing  and  talking  together. 

BLANCHE.   What  did  you  get,. Mr.  Warden? 

WARDEN.  Three  copies  of  "David  Harum," 
two  umbrellas,  and  a  cigar  case  too  short  for 
my  cigars. 


tao  THE  CLIMBERS 

Miss  GODESBY.   Give  it  to  me  for  cigarettes! 

WARDEN.  It's  too  long  for  cigarettes.  Then  I 
had  something  that's  either  a  mouchoir  or  a  hand- 
kerchief case,  or  for  neckties,  or  shaving  papers, 
or  something  or  other. 

TROTTER.  Yes,  I  know,  I  got  one  of  those,  too. 

DR.  STEINHART.  So  did  I! 

BLANCHE.  I  must  start  the  women;  we  are 
coming  back  here  to  arrange  a  surprise  for  you 
men. 

[She  nods  her  head  in  signal  to  STERLING,  and 
rises.     All  rise. 

STERLING.  One  moment  please.  One  toast 
on  Christmas  night !  Ned,  give  us  a  toast. 

ALL  THE  WOMEN.  [But  not  in  unison.]  Oh,  yes ! 
A  toast!  [Ad  lib.] 

WARDEN.   [Holding  up  his  glass.] 
Here's  to  those  whom  we  love! 


THE   CLIMBERS  121 

And  to  those  who  love  us! 
And  to  those  who  love  those  whom  we  love 
And  to  those  who  love  those  who  love  us ! 
ALL    THE    MEN.   [Not    in    unison.}  Good! 
Bravo!    Bully  toast!     [Ad  lib] 

{Every  one  drinks. 

BLANCHE.    One    more    toast,    Dick.    [To    the 
others.]   Christmas  Day  is  our  boy's  birthday. 
RUTH.   Surely !  a  toast  to  Richard ! 
STERLING.   Long  life   to  Master   Sterling,   the 
best  boy  in  the  world,  and  to  all  his  good  friends 
at  this  table. 

THE  MEN.   Hear!    Hear! 
[All  the  women  speak  their  next  speeches  at  the 

same  time. 

BLANCHE.        [Laughing.]        Of  course!    I've 
dropped  my  handkerchief. 

[NED  dives  under  the  table  for  it. 


THE   CLIMBERS 


Miss  SILLERTON.    O  dear,  my  fan ! 
Miss  GODESBY.   What  a  bore!    I've 
dropped  a  glove! 

[STEINHART  goes  under  the  table  for  it. 
CLARA.   Both  my  gloves  gone  —  I'm 
so   sorry! 

[GODESBY  goes  under  the  table  for  them. 
MRS.    HUNTER.     Dick,    please,    I've 
dropped  my  smelling  bottle. 
[TROTTER    and    STERLING   go   under 

the  table  for  it, 

RUTH.   My   gloves,    please,    I'm    so 
sorry! 

[MASON  goes  under  the  table  for  them. 
[The  speeches  of  the  women  are  simul- 
taneous, followed  by  the  movements 
of  the   men   also,   all   at  the  same 
time. 


[ALL 
together] 


THE   CLIMBERS  123 

BLANCHE.   Please  don't  bother;  the  servants  — 
[LEONARD,  JORDAN,  and,  two  extra  men  start  to 

hunt  under  the  table,  too: 
Miss  GODESBY.    Women  ought  to  have  every- 
thing they  own  fastened    to   them   with   rubber- 
neck elastics. 

[The  men,  somewhat  flustered,  all  rise  with  the 
various  articles,  and  offer  them  to  their  respec- 
tive owners. 

[All  the  women  thank  the  men  profusely, 
and  apologize  at  the  same  time.  STERLING 
takes  MRS.  HUNTER  out  at  back,  followed 
by  all  the  other  couples,  all  talking.  RUTH 
and  MASON  lag  behind. 

RUTH.  [To  BLANCHE,  who  with  WARDEN 
waits  for  RUTH  and  MASON  to  pass.]  I  want  just 
a  minute  with  Mr.  Mason,  Blanche.  [BLANCHE 
and  WARDEN  pass  out  before  her.  RUTH  is 


124  THE   CLIMBERS 

alone  with  MASON.  She  speaks  as  if  she  were 
carrying  on  a  conversation  that  had  been  interrupted. 
She  speaks  in  a  lowered  voice,  indicating  the  private 
nature  0}  what  she  has  to  say.]  I  sent  him  impera- 
tive word  yesterday  I  must  have  the  bonds.  I 
told  him  I  wanted  one  to  give  to  his  wife  for  Christ- 
mas. He  pretends  to-day  he  didn't  receive  this 
letter,  but  he  must  have. 

MASON.   This  makes  the  third  time  there  has 
been  some  excuse  for  not  giving  you  the  bonds? 
RUTH.  Yes,  and  this  letter  he  says  he  didn't 
get  was  sent  to  his  office  by  hand. 
MASON.   I'll  speak  to  him  before  I  leave. 

[They  go  out  at  back. 

[As  they  pass  out,  JORDAN  stands  by  the  doorway 
holding  the  curtains  back.  The  other  three  men 
stand  stiffly  at  the  Right.  As  MASON  and 
RUTH  go  out,  the  SERVANTS  relax  and  exchange 


THE   CLIMBERS  125 

glances,  each  giving  a  little  laugh  out  loud, 
except  JORDAN.    During  the  following  dialogue 
they  empty  the  table  preparatory  to  arranging 
the  room  for  the  Christmas  tree. 
JORDAN.   Sh !    A    very    dull    dinner,    not    an 
interesting  word  spoke. 

FIRST  FOOTMAN.  The  widder  seemed  chipper 
like! 

LEONARD.  And  did  you  get  on  to  the  old 
lady's  rig-out;  mourning  don't  hang  very  heavy 
on  her  shoulders. 

[One  chair  is  moved  back. 
JORDAN.   [To  FIRST  FOOTMAN.]   Get  the  coffee. 
[He   goes    out   Right.    To   LEONARD.]  Get   the 
smoking  lay-out! 

[LEONARD  goes  out  Right  and  brings  back  a 
silver  tray  laden  with  cigarettes,  cigar  boxes, 
and  a  burning  alcohol  lamp. 


126  THE    CLIMBERS 

LEONARD.  If  you  ask  me,  I  think  she's  going 
to  put  a  bit  more  on  the  matrimonial  mare  if 
she  gets  the  chance. 

JORDAN.  It's  none  of  your  business.  You're 
Mrs.  Sterling's  servant  now. 

LEONARD.  Good  thing,  too;  it  was  a  happy 
day  for  us  when  they  moved  in. 

FIRST  FOOTMAN.  [Re ''enters  with  the  coffee.] 
Say,  did  you  see  how  that  young  feller  over  there 
[Motioning  to  the  lower  right-hand  corner  of  the 
table.]  shovelled  the  food  in? 

LEONARD.  And  the  way  he  poured  down  the 
liquid  —  regular  hog !  My  arm's  tired  a- filling 
of  his  glass. 

[And  he  drinks  a  glass  of  champagne  which 
has  been  left  untouched  by  a  guest. 

JORDAN.  He  ain't  nobody ;  he  hasn't  any  money ; 
he  was  just  asked  to  fill  up.  He's  one  of  these 


THE   CLIMBERS  127 

yere  singing  chaps  what's  asked  to  pass  the  time 
after  dinner  with  a  song  or  two  gratis.  This 
dinner'll  last  him  for  food  for  a  week ! 

[Their   manners   suddenly   change   as   the   men 

re'enter  and,  take  seats  about  the  two  ends  of 

the   table.     STERLING,  MASON,   and  DOCTOR 

down  Left  form  one  group.   The  other  men  are 

in  a  group  between  the  window  and  the  other 

end.     On  entering  STERLING  speaks. 

STERLING.     Jordan,    for    heaven's    sake,    give 

us  something  to  see  by!    You  can't  tell  which 

end  of  your  cigar  to  light   in    this    confounded 

woman's  candle-light.     If  I  had  my  way,  I'd  have 

candelabras  made  of  Welsbachs ! 

TROTTER.   Bright  idea,  Sterling. 

[STERLING,    laughing,   joins    his    group,  who 

laugh   gently   with   him.     JORDAN   turns   on 

the    electric    light.     The    servants    pass    the 


128  THE   CLIMBERS 

coffee,  liqueurs,  and  the  cigars  and  cigarettes. 
Mean-while  the  following  dialogue  takes  place, 
the  men  beginning  to  talk  at  once  on  their 
entrance. 

STERLING.   Mr.   Mason,  I'd  like  to  ask  your 
honest  opinion  on  something  if  you'll  give  it  me. 
MASON.   Certainly. 

STERLING.   This  Hudson  Electric  Company. 
DR.   STEINHART.   Oh!    Dropped   fearfully   to- 
day. 

STERLING.  But   that  can  happen  easily   with 
the  best  thing.    To-morrow  — 

MASON.   [Interrupting.]  To-morrow  it  will  drop 
to  its  very  bottom! 
STERLING.  I  don't  believe  it. 
DR.  STEINHART.   Surely,  Mr.  Mason,  the  men 
who  floated  that  are  too  clever  to  ruin  themselves. 
MASON.   They're  out  of  it. 


THE   CLIMBERS  129 

STERLING.   Out  of  it! 

MASON.   They  got  out  last  week  quietly. 

STERLING.   But  — 

MASON.  Mark  my  words,  the  day  after  to-morrow 
there'll  be  several  foolish  people  ruined,  and  not 
one  of  the  promoters  of  that  company  will  lose  a 
penny ! 

STERLING.   I  don't  believe  it ! 

[The  crowd  at  the  other  end  of  the  table,  who 
have  been  listening  to  a  tale  from  TROTTER, 
laugh  heartily. 

TROTTER.  [Delighted  with  his  success.}  I'm  no 
Dodo  bird! 

[WARDEN  leaves  this  group  casually  and  joins 
the  other. 

MASON.  [To  STERLING.]  Don't  tell  me  you're 
in  it? 

STERLING.   [Ugly.]  Yes,  I  am  in  it! 


130  THE   CLIMBERS 

MASON.   Not  muck? 

STERLING.  Yes,  much! 

WARDEN.  Much  what? 

STERLING.  Oh,  nothing;  we  were  just  discussing 
stocks. 

WARDEN.  And  up  there  they're  discussing 
Jeffreys  and  Fitzsimmons. 

MASON.  Listen,  Dick,  after  a  lifelong  experience 
in  Wall  Street,  I  defy  any  broker  to  produce  one 
customer  who  can  show  a  profit  after  three  con- 
secutive years  of  speculation. 

STERLING.  Oh,  you're  too  conservative;  noth- 
ing venture,  nothing  have.  Excuse  me,  I  think 
Jeffreys  and  Fitzsimmons  more  amusing  topics. 
Come  along. 

[STERLING  and  DR.  STEINHART  join  the  other 
group  Right. 

MASON.  [To  WARDEN.]  You're  Sterling's  broker. 


THE   CLIMBERS  131 

WARDEN.   No,  not  for  over  a  year. 

MASON.  Then  you  can't  tell  me  how  deep  he 
is  in  this  Hudson  Electric  swindle? 

WARDEN.   Is  he  in  it  at  all? 

MASON.   Yes,  he  says,  deep. 

WARDEN.   I  suspected  it  yesterday. 

MASON.     But  what  with  —  his  wife's  money  ? 

WARDEN.  That  went  fourteen  months  ago.  I 
put  him  on  his  feet  then,  gave  him  some 
tips  that  enabled  him  to  take  this  house  with 
her  mother,  so  that  with  his  regular  law  busi- 
ness he  ought  to  have  done  very  well,  but 
his  living  could  not  leave  one  cent  over  to 
speculate  with. 

MASON.   [To  himself.]  Good   God! 

WARDEN.  I  know  what  you're  afraid  of. 

MASON.  No! 

WARDEN.  Yes.    The    reason    I'm    no    longer 


132  THE   CLIMBERS 

his  broker  is  he  was  ashamed  to  let  me  know 
about  his  dealings. 

MASON.  But  you  don't  mean  you  think  he'd 
actually  steal! 

WARDEN.  His  aunt's  money?  Why  not?  He 
did  his  wife's/ 

MASON.   Does  he  handle  any  one  else's  affairs? 

WARDEN.  I  know  he  takes  care  of  that  Godesby 
woman's  property. 

MASON.  And  she  wouldn't  hold  her  tongue  if 
a  crash  came! 

WARDEN.  Not  for  a  minute!  Is  Miss  Hunter 
suspicious? 

MASON.  Yes.  Does  Sterling  realize  that  to- 
morrow he  will  most  probably  be  a  ruined  cheat? 

WARDEN.  Very  likely. 

MASON.  If  he  made  up  his  mind  to-night  it 
was  all  up  with  Mm,  he  might  do  —  what  ? 


THE   CLIMBERS  133 

WARDEN.  Run  away  with  whatever  money  he 
has  left,  or  kill  himself.  I  don't  know  if  he's 
enough  of  a  coward  for  that  or  not.  There's  one 
hold  on  him  —  he  loves  his  wife. 

MASON.  Which  will  make  him  all  the  more 
ashamed  of  discovery.  Do  you  believe  she 
suspects  ? 

WARDEN.  Not  a  bit.  She  loves  him  too 
dearly. 

MASON.   Can  we  do  anything? 

WARDEN.  Nothing  but  watch  him  closely  till 
the  people  go.  Then  force  him  to  make  a  clean 
breast  of  it,  so  we  can  all  know  where  we  stand ; 
how  we  can  best  protect  his  aunt  from  ruin  and 
his  wife  and  boy  from  public  disgrace. 

MASON.   He  is  watching  us. 

WARDEN.  He  knows  I  know  him;  we  must  be 
careful.  He's  coming  toward  us.  [He  then  speaks 


134  THE   CLIMBERS 

in  a  different  tone,  but  no  louder.]  You're  certain  of 
the  trustworthiness  of  your  information? 

MASON.  Absolutely.  Every  man  left  in  that 
concern  will  be  ruined  before  the  'Change  closes 
after  to-morrow.  [STERLING  has  joined  them  in 
time  to  hear  the  end  of  MASON'S  speech.  MASON 
continues.]  I  am  telling  Warden  what  I  told  you 
about  the  Hudson  Electric  Company. 

STERLING.  Can't  you  talk  of  something  pleas- 
anter? 

[BLANCHE  re'enters  at  back.  On  her  entrance 
all  the  men  rise.  The  servants  finish  prepar- 
ing the  room  for  the  tree. 

BLANCHE.  I'm  very  sorry  —  I  really  can't  let 
you  men  stay  here  any  longer. 

ALL  THE  MEN.  Why  not?  How's  that  ?  [Ad  lib.] 

BLANCHE.  You  know  we  want  to  get  this  room 
ready  for  Santa  Claus !  Dick  !  [She  goes  to  her 
husband.  All  the  men  go  out  at  back  in  a  group  led 


THE   CLIMBERS  135 

by  WARDEN  and  MASON.  They  are  all  talking  and 
laughing.  BLANCHE  is  left  alone  with  her  husband.] 
What  is  this  Aunt  Ruth  has  been  telling  me  about 
not  being  able  to  get  some  bonds  from  you? 

STERLING.  Oh,  nothing.  I  forgot  to  send  them 
up  to  her,  that's  all. 

BLANCHE.   But  she  says  she  sent  three  times. 

STERLING.  One  time  too  late  to  get  into  the 
vault;  and  the  other,  her  letter  was  mislaid  — 
I  mean  not  given  to  me. 

BLANCHE.  You  haven't  broken  your  word  to 
me? 

STERLING.   What  if  I  had? 

BLANCHE.   I  would  let  the  law  take  its  course. 

STERLING.   You  must  love  me  very  little. 

BLANCHE.  I  live  with  you.  First  you  robbed 
me  of  my  respect  for  you ;  then  you  dried  up  my 
heart  with  neglect. 


136  THE    CLIMBERS 

STERLING.   And  our  boy? 

BLANCHE.  Your  blood  runs  in  his  veins;  your 
shame  and  disgrace  would  be  a  fearful  warning  to 
him.  It  might  kill  me;  but  never  mind,  if  it 
saved  him. 

STERLING.  Oh,  well,  I  haven't  broken  my  word  ! 
So  you  needn't  worry.  I've  been  honest  enough. 

BLANCHE.  [With  a  long  sigh  of  relief.]  Oh! 
I  hope  so! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Appearing  in  doorway  at 
back.]  The  men  are  in  the  drawing-room  —  shall 
we  come  here? 

BLANCHE.  Yes,  we'll  bring  the  others,  mother. 
Come,  Dick. 

[She  goes  out  with  MRS.  HUNTER  at  back. 

STERLING.  [Goes  to  door  Right,  opens  it,  and 
calls.]  Leonard! 

[LEONARD  enters  Right. 


THE   CLIMBERS  137 

LEONARD.   Yes,  sir? 

STERLING.   Go  up  to  my  library  at  the  top  of 
the  house,  get  a  railroad  guide  you  will  find  there, 
and  bring  it  down  and  put  it  on  the  table  in  the 
hall  just  outside  the  drawing-room  door. 
LEONARD.   Yes,  sir. 

STERLING.   Then  go  to  my  room  and  pack  my 
bag  and  dressing  case.     Do  you  understand? 
LEONARD.   Yes,  sir. 
[The  women  are  heard  singing  "Follow  the  Man 

from  Cook's"  and  gradually  coming  nearer. 
STERLING.  Be  quick,  and  say  nothing  to  any  one. 
LEONARD.   Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  quickly  Right.  STERLING  goes  up 
stage  and  stands  beside  the  door  at  back  as  the 
women  dance  in,  singing  "Follow  the  Man 
from  Cook's."  They  are  led  by  CLARA,  with 
MRS.  HUNTER  on  the  end.  BLANCHE  and  RUTH 


138  THE   CLIMBERS 

follow  alone,  not  dancing.  The  others  dance 
around  the  chairs  and  CLARA  jumps  on  and 
off  one  of  them  ;  this  stops  the  rest,  who  balk 
at  it.  STERLING  goes  out  at  back.  The  SER- 
VANTS enter  Right. 

CLARA.  I  don't  care  for  this  dinner  party  at 
all.  The  women  are  all  the  time  being  chased 
away  from  the  men !  I  prefer  being  with  Mr. 
Trotter.  Don't  you,  mama? 

Miss  SILLERTON.  He  doesn't  seem  able  to  give 
a  dinner  party  any  more  without  you  to  chaperone, 
Mrs.  Hunter. 

BLANCHE.   Mother,  how  can  you? 
MRS.  HUNTER.   Oh,  I  don't  know  as  it's  chaper- 
oning!   I  like  Mr.  Trotter  very  much. 

Miss  SILLERTON.  But  he's  such  a  little  cad. 
I  tried  to  give  him  a  lift,  but  he  was  too  heavy  for 
me. 


THE   CLIMBERS  139 

CLARA.  Oh,  well,  you  ought  just  to  pretend  it's 
the  money  in  his  pocket  makes  him  so  heavy; 
then  you'd  find  him  dead  easy. 

[Meanwhile  the   SERVANTS   have  arranged  the 

table,  taken  out  the  extra  leaves  and  made  it 

square,  and  left  the  room.     They  now  re  enter, 

bringing  in  a  gorgeously  decorated  and  lighted 

Christmas   tree.      There   is   at   once   a   loud 

chorus  0}  delighted  approval  from  the  women. 

The  SERVANTS   place  the  tree  in  the  centre 

of  the  table.     The  women  who  are  silting  rise 

and  come  near  to  examine  the  tree. 

RUTH.   What  a  beautiful  tree,  Blanche! 

BLANCHE.   The  boy   is   to  have  it  to-morrow 

morning  —  it's  really  his  tree !    [TOMPSON  brings 

in  a  large  basket  containing  seven  small  stockings 

and  six  small  boys1  socks  —  very  small  stockings 

and  very  small  socks.     They  are  made  of  bright  and 


140  THE   CLIMBERS 

different  colors  and  are  stuffed  into  absurd,  bulgy 
shapes]  There's  a  name  on  each  one.  Come 
along  now ! 

[Taking  out  a  little  sock.  The  women  crowd  around 
the  basket  and  each  hangs  a  sock  on  the  /ree,Miss 
GODESBY  and  CLARA  standing  on  chairs. 

CLARA.  [Reading  the  name  on  her  sock.]  Oh! 
mine's  for  Mr.  Mason.  What's  in  it,  Blanche? 

BLANCHE.  I  really  can't  tell  you.  I  asked  the 
clerk  where  I  bought  it  what  it  was  for,  and  he 
said  he  didn't  know;  it  was  a  "Christmas  present." 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Laughing.]  Oh,  I  know  the 
kind!  Mine's  for  Howard  Godesby.  What's 
his  present? 

BLANCHE.   A  silver  golf  marker. 

Miss  GODESBY.   But  he  doesn't  play  golf! 

BLANCHE.  Well,  he  ought  to;  it'll  keep  him 
young. 


THE    CLIMBERS  141 

CLARA.  It  will  be  all  right,  anyway,  Julia ! 
You  can  give  it  away  to  some  one  next  Christmas. 

Miss  SILLERTON.   What's  in  Mr.  Trotter's? 

BLANCHE.  Oh,  that  present  has  almost  been 
my  death!  Men  are  so  hard  to  find  things  for! 
I  had  put  in  a  gold  pencil  for  his  key  chain,  but 
to-night  while  we  were  eating  our  oysters,  I  saw 
him  show  a  beauty  that  his  mother  had  given  him 
this  morning !  So  I  whispered  to  Jordan  between 
the  soup  and  fish  to  change  Mr.  Ryder's  name  to 
Mr.  Trotter's  stocking,  and  put  Mr.  Trotter's 
name  on  the  one  that  had  a  cigarette  case  in  it. 
I  sneaked  a  message  down  to  Dick  on  my  dinner 
card  —  was  it  all  right  ?  —  and  he  sent  back  word 
during  the  game  that  Trotter  only  smoked  cigars;  so 
before  the  ices  were  passed  I  shuffled  Mr.  Trotter's 
and  Mr.  Mason's  names,  —  I'd  given  Mason  the 
cigar  case, — and  just  as  Jordan  signalled  to  me  the 


142  THE   CLIMBERS 

transfer  had  been  successfully  effected,  I  heard 
Trotter  casually  observe  he'd  been  obliged  to 
give  up  smoking  entirely  —  doctor's  orders! 

[They  laugh  punctiliously,  rather  bored  by 
BLANCHE'S  long  account. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   Isn't  the  tree  stunning? 

CLARA.  [Getting  down  from  her  chair.]  It 
makes  the  table  look  like  one  of  Mr.  Trotter's 
"informal  little  dinners." 

Miss  GODESBY.  They  say  he  has  one  of  those 
men  who  arrange  shop  windows  decorate  his 
dinner  table  for  him! 

BLANCHE.  The  only  time  I  ever  dined  with 
him  I  was  really  ashamed  to  go  home  with  my 
dinner  favor  —  it  was  so  gorgeous !  And  there 
were  such  big  bunches  of  violets  in  the  finger 
bowls  there  wasn't  room  for  your  little  finger. 

Miss  GODESBY.  You  never  saw  such  a  lot  of 


THE   CLIMBERS  143 

decoration!  The  game  have  ribbon  garters  on 
their  legs,  and  even  the  raw  oysters  wear  corsage 
bouquets !  [To  MRS.  HUNTER.]  I  hope  you  don't 
mind  what  we're  saying,  Mrs.  Hunter? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Offended.]  I  must  say  I  do 
mind  very  much.  —  [A  pause.]  —  because  —  [A 
second  pause.]  —  well,  I  am  going  to  marry  Mr. 
Trotter  —  [All,  not  believing  her,  [laugh  merrily.] 
You  are  all  very  rude! 

Miss  GODESBY.   Not  on  the  level !    Not  Trotter/ 

Miss  SILLERTON.   Not  really! 

BLANCHE.   No,  no,  of  course  not! 

[She  rings  bell. 

MRS.  HUNTER.     But   I  am!    And  I  thought 

here  at  my  daughter's  table,  among  my  own  friends 

(I  was  allowed  to  name  the  guests  to-night),  I 

could  count  on  good  wishes  and  congratulations. 

[There  is  a  dead  silence. 


144  THE   CLIMBERS 

[The  musicians,  a  band  of  Neapolitan  players, 

enter  and  take  their  places  in  a  recess  at  Left. 

BLANCHE.   [To  the  musicians.]  You  may  play. 

[To  JORDAN,  who  has  brought  in  the  Neapolitans.] 

We  are  ready,  Jordan. 

[JORDAN  goes  out  at  back. 

[RUTH  goes  to  BLANCHE. 

[The  guitars  and  mandolins  begin  a  popular  song. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [To  MRS.  HUNTER.]  Oh,  well, 

Mrs.   Hunter,   we  were  only    codding!     There's 

lots  of  good  in  Trotter,  and  I'm  sure  you'll  bring 

it  out.     Good  luck! 

[Shaking  her  hand. 

RUTH.  [To  BLANCHE,  aside.]  You  won't  allow 
this! 

BLANCHE.  Certainly  not.  [BLANCHE  crosses  to 
her  mother  and  they  go  to  one  side  together;  BLANCHE 
speaks  in  a  lowered  voice.]  You've  amazed  and 


THE   CLIMBERS  145 

shocked  me !    I  will  not  tolerate  such  a  thing ; 
we'll  talk  it  over  to-night. 

[She  leaves  her  and  returns  to  her  guests,  MRS. 
HUNTER  standing  where  she  is  left,  biting 
her  lips  and  almost  crying  with  rage  and 
mortification. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Before  the  musicians,  to 
BLANCHE  as  she  joins  her.}  I'm  crazy  about  these 
men,  Mrs.  Sterling ;  they  play  so  awfully  well  — 
especially  that  one  with  the  lovely  legs ! 

[JORDAN  putts  aside  the  curtains  at  back  and 
all  the  men  reenter  except  WARDEN.  They 
all  join  hands  and  dance  around  the  tree, 
singing  with  the  musicians;  they  break,  and 
go  up  to  a  side  table,  where  everything  to 
drink  is  displayed.  WARDEN  enters  at  this 
moment  and  motions  to  MASON  and  leads  him 
down  stage. 

L 


146  THE    CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  There  was  a  railway  guide  in  the 
hall  —  that's  what  he  went  there  for ;  he's  going 
to  run  away  to-night. 

MASON.   How'll  we  prevent  it? 

WARDEN.  First,  we  must  break  up  this 
party ! 

MASON.  How  ? 

WARDEN.  I  haven't  quite  thought  yet.  Go  back 
to  the  others ;  send  Jordan  to  me ;  don't  lose  sight 
of  Dick.  Jordan!  [He  takes  him  aside.]  I  want 
you  to  go  out  of  this  room  for  a  minute,  pretend 
to  go  upstairs,  then  come  back  and  tell  Mrs. 
Sterling,  loud  enough  for  the  others  to  hear  you, 
that  Master  Richard  is  very  ill,  and  say  the  maid 
is  frightened. 

JORDAN.   [Hesitating.]   But — 

WARDEN.  [Quickly  and  firmly.]  Do  as  I  tell 
you.  I  am  responsible  for  whatever  happens. 


THE    CLIMBERS  147 

[JORDAN  goes  out  at  back.     The  men  and  women 
are  laughing  and  talking  about  the  sideboard. 

BLANCHE.  Come  now,  everybody!  Let's  have 
the  presents.  Dick,  you  know  you  are  to  be 
Santa  Claus. 

[STERLING  looks  nervously  at  his  watch. 

STERLING.  Just  a  minute,  dear !  Ned !  [Takes 
WARDEN  to  one  side.  The  women  move  about 
the  tree,  hunting  for  their  own  names  on  the  stock- 
ings on  the  table  at  the  foot  of  the  tree.]  Ned,  I've 
been  suddenly  called  out  of  town  on  business  — 
must  catch  the  eleven-twenty  train.  I  don't  want 
to  break  up  the  party,  so  you  empty  .the  tree, 
and  when  the  time  comes  for  me  to  go,  I'll  slip 
out. 

WARDEN.   And  when  your  guests  go? 

STERLING.   Oh,  then  you  can  explain  for  me. 
[JORDAN  enters  at  back. 


148  THE   CLIMBERS 

JORDAN.  [To  BLANCHE.]  Beg  pardon,  madam, 
but  Master  Richard  is  very  ill. 

BLANCHE.   [Alarmed.]  Richard! 

JORDAN.  Yes,  ma'am,  and  Droves  is  very 
frightened,  ma'am. 

RUTH.   Richard  ill? 

[All  give  exclamations  of  surprise  and  regret  and 
sympathy. 

BLANCHE.  My  little  boy  ill?  Excuse  me,  I 
must  go  to  him. 

[She  hurries  out  at  back.  RUTH  speaks  to  the 
musicians,  who  stop  playing. 

STERLING.  [Moved.]  My  boy  ill  —  why,  I  can't 
—  I  can't  — 

WARDEN.   "Can't"  what? 

STERLING.  How  can  I  go  away? 

WARDEN.  Surely  you  won't  let  business  take 
you  away  from  your  boy  who  may  be  dying. 


THE    CLIMBERS  149 

STERLING.  No !  I  won't  go !  I'll  face  it  out ! 
I  can't  leave  my  boy  like  this  — 

RUTH.  [Coming  to  STERLING.]  I'm  going  to 
take  these  women  away ;  tell  Blanche  not  to  give 
them  a  thought.  Their  evening  up  to  now  has 
been  charming. 

[During  RUTH'S  speech,  WARDEN  has  spoken 

aside  with  MASON. 

WARDEN.  [Aside  to  MASON.]  Don't  let  Miss 
Hunter  go. 

RUTH.  [To  the  other  guests.]  Come  to  the 
drawing-room. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  was  crazy  to  see  what  was  in 
my  stocking. 

[All  pass  out  talking,  expressing  conventional 
sympathy  on  account  of  RICHARD,  but  evi- 
dently resenting  the  breaking  up  of  the  party. 
STERLING  and  WARDEN  are  left  alone  in  the 


150  THE   CLIMBERS 

room.    STERLING  moves   to  go  up  to  back; 
WARDEN  interrupts  him. 

WARDEN.   [To    STERLING.]  Where    are    you 
going? 

STERLING.   To  my  boy  and  my  wife. 

WARDEN.  Wait  a  minute;  I  want  to  speak  to 
you. 

STERLING.   Speak  to  me  later ;  I  can't  wait  now. 

BLANCHE.  [Ofi  stage,  at  back,  excitedly.] 
Jordan !  [She  enters,  excited,  half  hysterical.] 
Jordan !  Where  is  Jordan?  It  was  a  lie !  What 
did  he  mean?  Richard  is  sleeping  sweetly.  The 
maid  knows  nothing  of  being  alarmed!  Where 
is  Jordan? 

[She  starts  to  go  toward  the  door  Right. 

WARDEN.  [Stops  her.]  Mrs.  Sterling,  he  had 
nothing  to  do  with  it !  /  told  Jordan  to  say  what 
he  said. 


THE   CLIMBERS  151 

[BLANCHE  turns  and  looks  at  WARDEN  in  aston- 
ishment. 

STERLING.  [Stunned  and  at  once  suspicious.] 
What? 

BLANCHE.   But  — 

WARDEN.  Forgive  me  for  so  cruelly  alarming 
you ;  it  was  the  only  way  I  could  think  of  for  get- 
ting rid  at  once  of  your  guests! 

STERLING.  [Angry.]  You'll  interfere  once  too 
often  in  the  affairs  of  this  house. 

BLANCHE.  [Indignant.]  But  what  excuse  can 
you  make,  Mr.  Warden? 

WARDEN.  Will  you  be  so  good  as  to  ask  Miss 
Hunter  and  Mr.  Mason  to  come  here?  They 
will  explain  what  I  have  done,  partly,  and  your 
husband  will  tell  you  the  rest  when  you  come 
back. 

[STERLING  sneers  aloud. 


152  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.   I  don't  understand,  I  don't  under- 
stand. 

[She  goes  out  at  back. 

STERLING.    Well,    I    do    understand,   at    least 
enough. 

WARDEN.   Good !    That  spares  me  a  very  dis- 
agreeable speech. 

STERLING.   No,  it  doesn't!    Come  out  with  it! 
What  is  it  you  want  ?    What  is  it  you've  found  out  ? 

WARDEN.   From  betraying  a  trust,  you've  come, 
in  less  than  two  years,  to  an  outright  embezzlement. 

STERLING.   Speak  out  —  give  us  facts! 

WARDEN.   You've  stolen  your  aunt's  fortune. 

STERLING.    Prove  that! 

WARDEN.  It's  her  money  that's  lost  in  the  Hudson 
Electric  Company! 

STERLING.  PROVE  IT! 

WARDEN.    Easy  enough,  to-morrow. 


THE   CLIMBERS  153 

STERLING.  You've  got  to  excuse  your  action 
to-night  or  be  kicked  out  of  my  house ! 

WARDEN.  [Strong.]  Isn't  what  I  say  the 
truth? 

STERLING.  [Equally  strong.]  No !  And  now 
get  out ! 

WARDEN.  [Looks  at  his  watch.]  I'll  not  leave 
this  house  till  it's  too  late  for  you  to  take  that 
eleven-twenty. 

STERLING.  [More  ugly.]  Yes,  you  will  and 
mighty  — 

WARDEN.   No,  I'll  not! 

[He  is  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of  BLANCHE, 
RUTH,  and  MASON. 

WARDEN.  [To  BLANCHE.]  I  hope  you  forgive 
me  now  — 

BLANCHE.  [Pathetically.]  You  did  right;  I 
thank  you. 


154  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.  [Heartbroken.]  Blanche  —  without 
hearing  a  word  from  me ! 

BLANCHE.  No,  I've  come  now  to  hear  what 
you  have  to  say. 

[A  deep-toned  clock  strikes  eleven.  STERLING,  at 
the  second  stroke,  takes  out  his  watch  with 
a  hurried  movement. 

WARDEN.   [Quickly.]  Eleven   o'clock. 

STERLING.   I  wish  Warden  to  leave  the  room. 

BLANCHE.  \Firmly.}  And  I  wish  him  to  stay. 
[A  short  pause. 

STERLING.  Well,  of  what  am  I  accused  ? 

WARDEN.  Nobody  wants  to  accuse  you.  We 
want  you  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it. 

STERLING.  Don't  you  talk  to  me;  let  my  wife 
do  the  talking  if  you  want  me  to  answer. 

BLANCHE.  Sit  down,  Aunt  Ruth.  [RUTH  sits  by 
the  table,  WARDEN  stands  at  back.  STERLING  stands 


THE   CLIMBERS  155 

at  Right  and  BLANCHE  and  MASON  sit  near  the 
centre.]  Aunt  Ruth  asks  you  to  give  her  a  true 
account  of  her  trust  in  you.  Mr.  Mason  is  here 
as  her  friend  and  my  father's. 

STERLING.  I  haven't  said  I  betrayed  her  trust. 
I  told  her  she  should  have  the  bonds  she  wants 
to-morrow. 

BLANCHE.  But  will  she?  That's  what  I  want 
to  know.  I  ask  you  if  you  haven't  her  bonds, 
to  tell  us  here  now,  —  tell  us,  who  have  been  and 
must  be  still  the  best  friends,  perhaps  the  only 
friends,  you  can  have.  Tell  us  where  we  all 
stand  —  are  we  the  only  ones  to  suffer  or  are  there 
others  who  will  perhaps  be  less  generous  in  their 
treatment  of  you?  Tell  us  now  while  there  is 
time  perhaps  to  save  us  from  public  scandal,  from 
the  disgrace  which  would  stamp  your  wife  as  the 
wife  of  a  thief,  and  send  your  boy  out  into  the  world 


I56  THE   CLIMBERS 

the  son  of  a  convict  cheat.  [She  breaks  down,  but 
in  a  moment  controls  herself.  There  is  no  answer. 
STERLING  sinks  into  a  chair,  his  arms  on  the  table, 
his  head  on  his  arms.  A  moment's  silence.]  You 
love  me  —  I  know  that.  I  appeal  to  your  love ; 
let  your  love  of  me  persuade  you  to  do  what  I  ask. 
I  ask  it  for  your  sake  and  for  mine!  Tell  us  here 
the  truth  now  —  it  will  spare  me  much  to-morrow, 
perhaps  —  me  whom  you  love  —  for  love  of  me  — 

STERLING.  [In  an  agony.]  I'm  afraid  I'll  lose 
you  — 

BLANCHE.  No,  I'll  promise  to  stand  by  you  if 
you'll  only  tell  us  all  the  truth. 

STERLING.  [In  a  low,  shamed  voice.]  I'll 
tell  you,  but  not  now  —  not  before  all  these 
others. 

[BLANCHE   looks   up  questioningly  to   MASON. 
MASON  shakes  his  head.  • 


THE   CLIMBERS  157 

BLANCHE.   It  must  be  now,  Dick. 
STERLING.   No!  no!    I  can't  look  you  in  the 
face  and  tell  it !     Let  me  tell  it  to  you  alone,  later, 
in  the  dark. 
[BLANCHE  looks  up  questioningly  to  MASON.    He 

shakes  his  head. 
BLANCHE.   It  must  be  now. 
STERLING.   No,  no,  I'm  too  ashamed,  I  can't 
face  you ;  in  the  dark  I'll  make  a  clean  breast  of 
it  —  let  me  tell  you  in  the  dark. 

[WARDEN  moves  and  puts  his  hand  on  the  electric- 
light  button  beside  the  doorway  at  back. 
WARDEN.   In  the  DARK,  then,  tell  it! 
[He  presses  the  button  and  all  the  lights  go  out. 
The  stage  is  in  complete  darkness;   only  the 
voices  are  heard  jrom  the  different  places,  in 
which  the  actors  are  last  seen. 
BLANCHE.   [Quickly.]   Remember,  to  help  you, 


I58  THE   CLIMBERS 

to  help  ourselves,  we  must  know  everything.   Go 
on. 

STERLING.  It  began  fourteen  months  ago, 
after  Ned  Warden  put  me  on  my  feet;  I  got  a 
little  ahead  —  why  not  get  way  ahead  ?  There  were 
plenty  of  men  around  me  making  their  fortunes! 
I  wanted  to  equal  them  —  climb  as  high  as  they ; 
it  seemed  easy  enough  for  them,  and  luck  had 
begun  to  come  my  way.  We're  all  climbers  of 
some  sort  in  this  world.  I  was  a  climber  after 
wealth  and  everything  it  brings  — 

[He  stops  a  moment. 

BLANCHE.  [Her  voice  comes  throbbing  with 
pathetic  emotion  through  the  darkness.]  And  / 
after  happiness  and  all  it  brings. 

STERLING.  [Deeply  moved,  his  voice  trembles  for 
a  moment,  but  only  for  a  moment.]  Don't,  Blanche, 
or  I  can't  finish.  Well,  I  borrowed  on  some  of 


THE   CLIMBERS  159 

Aunt  Ruth's  bonds  and  speculated  —  I  made  a 
hundred  thousand  in  a  week!  I  put  back  the 
bonds.  But  it  had  been  so  easy!  I  could  see 
those  bonds  grinning  at  me  through  the  iron  side 
of  the  vault  box.  They  seemed  to  smile  and  beckon, 
to  beg  me  to  take  them  out  into  the  air  again ! 
They  grew  to  be  like  living  things  to  me,  servants 
of  mine  to  get  me  gold  —  and  finally  I  determined 
to  make  one  bigger  coup  than  ever!  I  took 
Aunt  Ruth's  bonds  out  and  all  the  money  available 
in  my  trust,  and  put  it  all  into  this  new  company ! 
It  seemed  so  safe.  I  stood  to  be  a  prince  among 
the  richest!  And,  for  a  day  or  so,  I've  known 
nothing  short  of  a  miracle  could  save  me  from 
being  wanted  by  the  police !  To-night  I  gave  up 
even  the  miracle.  That's  all.  It's  no  use  saying 
I'm  sorry. 

[A  moment's  pause. 


160  THE   CLIMBERS 

MASON.  Have  others  suffered  besides  Miss 
Hunter? 

STERLING.  There  is  some  money  of  Aunt 
Ruth's  left  — stock  I  couldn't  transfer.  But  I 
used  the  money  of  others  —  Miss  Godesby  and 
Ryder's. 

MASON.  Miss  Ruth,  a  large  part  of  your  for- 
tune is  gone,  used  unlawfully  by  this  man.  Will 
you  resort  to  the  law? 

RUTH.    [Very  quietly.]   No! 

BLANCHE.  [In  a  voice  broken  with  emotion  and 
gratitude.]  Aunt  Ruth! 

MASON.  We  can't  hope  Miss  Godesby  and 
Ryder  will  be  as  lenient!  You  must  go  to  them 
in  the  morning  —  tell  them  everything,  put  your- 
self at  their  mercy,  ask  for  time  and  their 
silence. 

STERLING.   Never!    I  couldn't  do  it. 


THE   CLIMBERS  161 

MASON.  It  is  the  only  honorable  way  out  of  your 
dishonorable  action  —  the  least  you  can  do ! 

STERLING.  Confess  to  their  faces,  and  probably 
to  no  good  ?  Eat  the  dust  at  their  feet,  and  most 
likely  be  clapped  into  prison  for  it  ?  No,  thank  you  1 

BLANCHE.   Suppose  7  went  to  them  ? 

STERLING.  You  ? 

RUTH.   No!    Why  should  you! 

STERLING.  Yes!  Why  not?  They  might  keep 
silent  for  her  I 

BLANCHE.  I  would  do  it  for  my  boy's  sake. 
Yes,  Pll  go. 

STERLING.    Yes!    You  go,  Blanche. 

RUTH.  No,  you  shan't  go  —  you  shan't  humili- 
ate yourself  in  his  place! 

MASON.  Certainly  not ;  and  if  your  husband  is 
willing,  we  are  not  willing!  He  must  go. 

BLANCHE.   But  if  he  won't? 
if 


1 62  THE   CLIMBERS 

MASON.   He  must! 

RUTH.  You  must  demand  his  going,  Blanche, 
and  I  demand  it,  too,  as  something  due  to  me. 

BLANCHE.  Very  well.  I  demand  it.  Will  you 
go? 

[A  moment's  silence. 

WARDEN.  Why  don't  you  speak?  [He  presses 
the  electric  button  and  all  the  lights  come  on.  STER- 
LING is  at  the  doorway  at  back,  about  to  steal  out. 
There  is  an  exclamation  aloud  from  all  of  sur- 
prise and  disgust.  The  clock  strikes  the  quarter ; 
WARDEN  catches  hold  of  STERLING'S  arm.] 
What's  your  hurry,  Dick  ?  There  goes  the  quarter 
hour ;  you  could  never  catch  the  eleven-twenty. 

STERLING.   Damn  you! 

[Facing  WARDEN  squarely,  as 

THE  CURTAIN  FALLS   QUICKLY 


ACT  III 

At  "  The  Hermitage,"  on  the  Bronx  River,  the 
next  afternoon.  The  house  is  on  the  Left,  and 
on  the  Right  and  at  the  back  are  the  green  lattice 
arches.  Snow  lies  thick  everywhere,  on  the 
benches  at  the  Right  and  on  the  little  iron 
table  beside  it,  on  the  swing  between  two  trees  at 
the  Right,  in  the  red  boxes  of  dead  shrubs,  on 
the  rocks  and  dried  grass  of  a  "rookery"  in  the 
centre,  and  on  the  branches  of  the  trees.  CLARA 
comes  out  from  the  house,  followed  by  TROTTER. 

CLARA.     Come  on  and  let  mama  rest  awhile  — 

naturally  she's  excited  and  tired  out,  being  married 

so   suddenly   and   away   from  home.   [She  stops 

beside  the  swing,  taking  hold  of  its  side  rope  with 

163 


1 64  THE   CLIMBERS 

her  hand.]  It  isn't  every  mother  who  can  elope 
without  her  oldest  child's  consent  and  have  her 
youngest  daughter  for  a  bridesmaid. 

[Laughing. 

TROTTER.  I  hope  Mrs.  Sterling  will  forgive 
me.  Perhaps  she  will  when  she  sees  how  my 
money  can  help  your  mother  and  me  to  get  right 
in  with  all  the  smarties! 

CLARA.  Oh,  don't  you  be  too  sure  about  your 
getting  in ;  it  isn't  as  easy  as  the  papers  say !  But, 
anyway,  that  wouldn't  make  any  difference  to 
Blanche.  She  was  never  a  climber  like  mama 
and  me.  I  suppose  that's  why  she  is  asked  to 
all  sorts  of  houses  through  Aunt  Ruth  that  wouldn't 
let  mama  and  me  even  leave  our  cards  on  the 
butler! 

TROTTER.  I  thought  your  mother  could  go 
anywhere  she  liked. 


THE   CLIMBERS  165 

CLARA.  Oh,  no,  she  couldn't!  if  she  made  you 
think  that,  it  was  only  a  jolly !  Blanche  is  the 
only  one  of  us  who  really  went  everywhere.  Come 
along,  "Poppa,"  give  me  a  swing !  I  haven't  had 
one  for  years ! 

[She  sweeps  off  the  snow  from  the  seat  of  the 
swing  with  her  hand. 

TROTTER.  Your  mother  certainly  did  repre- 
sent — 

CLARA.  [Sitting  in  the  swing.]  Oh,  well,  now 
don't  blame  mama !  She  couldn't  help  herself ; 
she  always  thought  you  dreadfully  handsome! 
Swing  me ! 

TROTTER.  I  don't  care,  anyway.  I'm  deucedly 
proud  of  your  mother,  —  I  mean  of  my  wife,  —  and 
I'd  just  as  lief  throw  up  the  whole  society  busi- 
ness and  go  off  and  live  happily  by  ourselves. 

CLARA.    O   dear!    I   think   mama   would  find 


166  THE    CLIMBERS 

that  awfully  dull.  Go  on,  swing  me !  [TROTTER 
swings  her.]  Of  course,  you'll  find  mama  a  little 
different  when  you  see  her  all  the  time.  You 
really  won't  see  much  more  of  her,  though,  than  you 
do  now.  She  doesn't  get  up  till  noon,  and  has  her 
masseuse  for  an  hour  every  morning,  her  manicure 
and  her  mental  science  visitor  every  other  day, 
and  her  face  steamed  three  times  a  week !  She 
has  to  lie  down  a  lot,  too,  but  you  mustn't  mind 
that ;  you  must  remember  she  isn't  our  age ! 

TROTTER.  [Swings  her.]   She  suits  me ! 

CLARA.  That's  just  what  7  feel!  You'll  take 
care  of  her,  and  me,  too,  all  our  lives,  and  that's 
what  makes  me  so  happy.  I'm  full  of  plans ! 
We'll  go  abroad  soon  and  stay  two  years.  [He  has 
stopped  swinging  her.]  Go  on,  swing  me ! 

TROTTER.  [Holding  the  swing  still.]  Say!  if 
you  think  you  are  going  to  run  me  and  the  whole 


THE   CLIMBERS  167 

family,  you're  a  Dodo  bird!  Remember  that 
you're  my  daughter;  you  must  wait  a  little  if 
you  want  to  be  a  mother-in-law. 

[Sleigh-bells  are  heard  in  the  distance,  coming 
nearer. 

CLARA.  Good  gracious !  If  you  ask  me,  I 
think  mama  has  got  her  hands  full.  What's 
become  of  Miss  Godesby  and  her  brother? 

TROTTER.  When  you  went  upstairs  with  your 
mother,  they  went  down  the  road. 

CLARA.  You  know  originally  the  idea  was  7 
was  to  marry  you. 

TROTTER.   Really  — 

CLARA.  [Laughingly.]  Yes,  and  mama  cut  me 
out. 

TROTTER.  Oh,  well,  it  can't  be  helped;  we 
can't  marry  everybody. 

CLARA.   [Noticing    the    bells.]    Somebody    else 


168  THE    CLIMBERS 

arriving  1  That's  queer  —  nobody  comes  here 
in  the  winter;  that's  why  we  chose  it,  because  it 
would  be  quiet!  Let's  play  this  game. 

[Going  to  an  iron  frog  on  a  box  which  stands 
near  the  house. 

TROTTER.   Perhaps  it's  Mrs.  Sterling. 

CLARA.  No ;  if  she  was  coming  at  all,  she'd  have 
come  in  time  for  the  wedding.  [She  takes  up  the 
disks  which  lie  beside  the  frog.]  I  should  hate  to 
get  married  like  you  and  mama  —  no  splurge  and 
no  presents !  Why,  the  presents'd  be  half  the  fun ! 
And  think  of  all  those  you  and  she've  given  in 
your  life,  and  have  lost  now  a  good  chance  of 
getting  back. 

[Throws  a  disk  into  the  frog's  open  mouth. 

TROTTER.  /'//  give  your  mother  all  the  presents 
she  wants.  I  can  afford  it ;  I  don't  want  anybody 
to  give  us  anything! 


THE   CLIMBERS  169 

CLARA.  You  talk  like  Jess !  [Throws  another 
disk.]  You  know  Jess  earns  her  own  living.  She 
goes  around  to  smart  women's  houses  answering 
their  invitations  and  letters  for  'em.  She  calls  it 
being  a  visiting  secretary,  but  I  tell  her  she's  a 
co-respon-dent  I 

[Throws  a  disk. 

[WARDEN  and  MASON  enter  from  behind  the 
house  quickly,  with  a  manner  of  suppressed 
excitement.  They  are  surprised  to  find  CLARA 
and  TROTTER. 

WARDEN.   Why,  here  they  are! 
MASON.    No,  only  Miss  Clara  and  Trotter. 
WARDEN.   Lucky  I  met  you  —  you  must  take 
me  back  in  your  sleigh. 
MASON.   Yes,  the  riding's  beastly. 
TROTTER.    Hello!     I  say,  were  you  invited? 
CLARA.   Merry  Christmas! 


170  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  We  came  to  see  the  Godesbys. 

CLARA.   They've  gone  down  the  road. 

MASON.    Sterling  isn't  here,  is  he? 

TROTTER.   No,  haven't  seen  him. 

CLARA.   Do  you  know  why  we're  here? 

[MASON  and  WARDEN  are  embarrassed. 

MASON.  Yes  —  er  —  er  —  a  —  many  happy  re- 
turns, Mr.  Trotter. 

TROTTER.   It's  a  great  day  for  me,  Mr.  Mason ! 

WARDEN.   Wish  you  joy,  Trotter! 

[Embarrassed  and  not  going  near  him.  TROTTER 
rushes  eagerly  to  him  and  grasps  his  hand 
warmly. 

TROTTER.  Thank  you,  old  man !  I  say !  Thank 
you! 

MASON.  Miss  Clara,  would  you  do  me  the 
great  favor  of  going  down  the  road  and  hurrying 
the  Godesbys  back  if  you  see  them? 


THE   CLIMBERS  171 

CLARA.   Yes,  I  don't  mind ;  come  along,  Trotty ! 

WARDEN.  You  must  excuse  Trotter.  I  want 
a  talk  with  him  if  he  will  give  me  five  minutes. 

CLARA.    Oh,  certainly. 

[She  goes  out  Left  behind  the  house. 

WARDEN.  [To  MASON.]  Will  you  see  Mrs. 
Hunter  ? 

TROTTER.   I  beg  your  pardon,  Mrs.  Trotter! 

WARDEN.  [Politely.]  I  beg  yours.  [To  MASON.] 
See  Mrs.  Trotter. 

MASON.  [Aside  to  WARDEN.]  You're  going  to 
ask  him  to  go  on  Dick's  note  for  Ryder? 

WARDEN.   [In  a  low  voice.]  Yes. 

MASON.   You're  a  wonder !    As  if  he  would ! 

WARDEN.  Somebody  must,  and  there's  nobody 
else.  That  boy  and  that  mother  have  got  to  be 
saved ! 

MASON.   I'm  sorry  my  name's  no  good  for  us. 


172  THE    CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.   And  mine  mustn't  be  used. 

MASON.  No,  indeed!  The  minute  that  was 
done,  there'd  be  a  new  complication,  and  more 
trouble  would  tumble  down  on  Mrs.  Sterling's 
head.  Good  luck. 

[Shakes  his  hand  and  enters  the  house. 

TROTTER.  What's  up?  You  haven't  come  to 
kick  about  my  wedding,  have  you?  I  wouldn't 
stand  for  that,  you  know! 

WARDEN.  It's  not  that,  Mr.  Trotter.  Your 
wife's  son-in-law,  Sterling,  has  turned  out  a 
blackguard ;  he  has  had  intrusted  to  him  Miss 
Ruth  Hunter's  money  and  several  other  people's, 
and  he's  used  it  all  for  speculation  of  his  own. 

TROTTER.   Then  he's  a  damned  thief! 

[He  sits  on  the  bench  with  the  manner  that  he 
has  settled  the  subject. 

WARDEN.   So  he  is,  and  he's  ruined. 


THE   CLIMBERS  173 

TROTTER.   Well,  prison  is  the  place  for  him. 

WARDEN.  We  won't  argue  that,  but  how  about 
his  family  —  they  get  punished  for  what  he  has 
done ;  they  must  share  his  disgrace. 

TROTTER.  Oh,  well,  my  wife  is  out  of  all  that 
now  —  she's  Mrs.  Trotter. 

WARDEN.   Yes,  but  her  own  daughter  suffers. 

TROTTER.  [On  the  defensive.}  She  isn't  very 
chummy  with  her  classy  eldest  daughter. 

WARDEN.  Never  mind  that ;  you  know  without 
my  telling  you  that  Mrs.  Sterling  is  a  fine  woman. 

TROTTER.  She's  always  snubbed  me  right  and 
left,  but,  by  George,  I  must  own  she  is  a  fine 
woman. 

WARDEN.  That's  right!  [Clapping  him  on  the 
back  and  putting  his  arm  around  his  shoulder.} 
Look  here  —  help  us  save  her ! 

TROTTER.  How? 


I74  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  Indorse  a  note  of  Sterling's  to  give 
Ryder  to  keep  him  quiet. 

TROTTER.   I'd  have  to  ask  my  wife. 

WARDEN.  No!  Don't  start  off  like  that! 
Keep  the  reins  in  your  own  hands  at  the  very  be- 
ginning, —  make  her  realize  from  this  very  day 
that  you're  raised  up  on  the  cushion  beside  her; 
that  she's  sitting  lower  down  admiring  the  scenery, 
while  you  do  the  driving  through  life ! 

TROTTER.  [Half  laughing.]  Ha !  I  guess 
you're  right.  Box  seat  and  reins  are  good  enough 
for  me! 

WARDEN.  Good  boy!  Then  we  can  count  on 
you  to  sign  this  note? 

TROTTER.   Where's  my  security? 

WARDEN.  I  can  get  you  security  if  you  want  it. 

TROTTER.  Of  course  I  want  it!  And  I  say, 
where  are  you?  Why  aren't  you  in  it? 


THE   CLIMBERS  175 

WARDEN.  There  are  reasons  why  my  name 
had  better  not  appear;  you  are  in  the  family. 
But  I'll  tell  you  what  I'll  do,  Trotter ;  I'll  secure 
you  with  a  note  of  my  own  —  only  you  must  keep 
it  dark ;  you  mustn't  even  let  Mason  know. 

TROTTER.  All  right,  perhaps  I'm  a  Dodo  bird, 
but  I'll  do  it.  Say,  I  seem  to  have  married  a 
good  many  of  this  classy  family! 

WARDEN.   Trotter,  no  one's  done  you  justice! 

And,  by  George !  you  deserve  a  better  fate  —  er 

—  I  mean  —  my  best  wishes  on  your  wedding  day. 

[TROTTER  shakes  his  hand  delightedly. 

TROTTER.  Great  day  for  me !  What  I  wanted 
was  style  and  position,  and  some  one  classy  who 
would  know  how  to  spend  my  money  for  me ! 

WARDEN.   Well,  you've  got  that,  surely  t 

[CLARA  comes  back  from  the  house. 

CLARA.  The   Godesbys  are  coming.    Trotter, 


176  THE   CLIMBERS 

there's  skating  on  the  river  near  here,  and  they've 
skates  in  the  house  —  don't  you  want  a  spin  ? 

TROTTER.  Yes,  I  don't  mind  —  if  my  wife 
doesn't  need  me !  [CLARA  laughs  as  GODESBY  and 
Miss  GODESBY  enter  from  behind  the  house. 
TROTTER  meets  them,  with  CLARA  on  his  arm.] 
Excuse  us  for  a  little  while! 

CLARA.   Poppa  and  I're  going  skating! 

[They  go  out  Left. 

GODESBY.   Hello,  Warden. 

WARDEN.    Good  morning,  Miss  Godesby. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Good  morning. 

WARDEN.  How  are  you,  Godesby?  I've  come 
on  a  matter  most  serious,  most  urgent  —  some- 
thing very  painful. 

GODESBY.  What  is  it? 

[Comes  forward. 

WARDEN.   Both  of  you  trusted  Dick  Sterling. 


THE    CLIMBERS  177 

Miss  GODESBY.   What's  he  done? 

WARDEN.   Misused  your  funds. 

GODESBY.   How  d'you  mean? 

WARDEN.  1  mean  that  the  money  you  intrusted 
to  him  is  gone,  and  I've  come  to  make  a  proposi- 
tion to  you. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Gone? 

[GODESBY  and  Miss  GODESBY  are  aghast.  A 
second's  silence,  during  which  GODESBY  and 
Miss  GODESBY  look  at  each  other,  then  back 
at  WARDEN. 

GODESBY.   Do  you  mean  to  say  — 

WARDEN.  The  money  is  gone,  every  penny  of 
it,  and  I  want  you  to  accept  a  note  from  Sterling 
to  cover  the  amount. 

Miss  GODESBY.   I  can't  grasp  it! 

GODESBY.  Where  is  Sterling?  Why  didn't 
he  come? 


178  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.    He  was  ashamed. 

GODESBY.  I  should  hope  so! 

WARDEN.  Several  of  us  are  going  to  stick  by 
him ;  we'll  manage  to  put  him  on  his  feet  again, 
and  we  want  you  to  accept  his  note. 

GODESBY.   [Incredulous.]  Accept  his  note? 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Also  incredulous.]  On  what 
security  ? 

GODESBY.  [Quickly.}  You'll  do  nothing  of  the 
sort,  Julia! 

Miss  GODESBY.  I'll  see  him  where  he  belongs, 
in  State's  Prison,  first! 

WARDEN.  That  wouldn't  bring  you  back  your 
money. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Neither  will  his  note! 

WARDEN.  If  I  get  it  indorsed  ? 
.  GODESBY.  Likely! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Rather! 


THE   CLIMBERS  179 

WARDEN.  I  want  your  silence  to  keep  it  from 
the  public  for  the  family's  sake.  I've  secured  a 
satisfactory  indorser  for  a  note  to  satisfy  Ryder's 
claim. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Why  didn't  you  give  him  to  me 
instead  of  Ryder? 

WARDEN.  I  felt  you  would  be  willing,  out  of 
friendship  — 

[There  are  sleigh-bells  in  the  distance,  coming 
nearer. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Huh!  you  must  take  me  for 
an  idiot! 

WARDEN.    Out  of  friendship  for  his  wife. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Blanche  Sterling !  I  never 
could  bear  her!  She's  always  treated  me  like 
the  dirt  under  her  feet! 

WARDEN.   You  dined  with  her  last  night. 

Miss  GODESBY.   That  was  to  please  her  mother. 


l8o  THE   CLIMBERS 

No,  if  my  money's  gone,  Sterling's  got  to  suffer, 
and  the  one  slight  consolation  I  shall  have  will  be 
that  Blanche  Sterling  will  have  to  come  off  her 
high  horse. 

[The  sleigh-bells  stop. 

GODESBY.  [To  Miss  GODESBY.]  Ten  to  one 
if  you  agree  to  sign  this  note  — 

WARDEN.   And  keep  silent. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Satirically.]  Oh,  yes,  of  course, 
the  next  morning  when  I  wake  up  Sterling  will  be 
gone !  Nobody  knows  where ! 

WARDEN.  I've  had  it  out  with  Sterling!  I  am 
here  as  his  representative.  I  give  you  my  word 
of  honor  Sterling  will  not  run  away.  It  is  under 
such  an  understanding  with  him  that  I  am  plead- 
ing his  case  in  his  stead.  He  will  stay  here  and 
work  till  he  has  paid  you  back,  every  cent. 

[JESSICA  enters  hurriedly  from  the  house. 


THE   CLIMBERS  181 

JESSICA.  [In  great  excitement.]  Mr.  Warden, 
Mr.  Warden,  Dick  has  gone ! 

WARDEN.   Sterling  ?    Gone  ? 

Miss  GODESBY.     Gone? 

GODESBY.   That's  good! 

WARDEN.  Don't  be  a  fool,  Godesby.  How  do 
you  mean  "gone,"  Miss  Hunter? 

JESSICA.  I  don't  altogether  know.  While  I 
was  out  this  morning,  Blanche  received  a  message 
from  mother  saying  she'd  been  — 

[She  hesitates,  looking  toward  GODESBY  and 
Miss  GODESBY. 

WARDEN.  They  know.  They're  your  mother's 
guests  here. 

JESSICA.  She  told  Blanche  they  would  be 
glad  to  have  her  here  at  one  o'clock  for 
breakfast.  Blanche  ordered  the  sleigh  at  once 
and  went  away,  leaving  word  for  me  I  was 


i82  THE   CLIMBERS 

to  open  any  message  which  might  come  for 
her. 

WARDEN.   [To  GODESBY.]  Has  she  been  here? 

GODESBY.   Not  that  I  know  of. 

Miss  GODESBY.   [Eager  to  hear  more.]  No,  no! 

JESSICA.  No,  they  say  not.  She  probably 
went  first  to  Aunt  Ruth's.  Before  I  got  back, 
Dick,  who'd  been  out  — 

WARDEN.   He  was  at  my  house. 

JESSICA.  Yes.  He  came  back,  questioned  Jor- 
dan as  to  where  Blanche  was,  went  upstairs,  and 
then  went  away  again,  leaving  a  note  for  Blanche, 
which  I  found  when  I  came  home  — 

WARDEN.   [Eagerly.]  Yes? 

JESSICA.   It  simply  said,  "Good-by.     Dick." 

Miss  GODESBY.   [Very  angry.]   Oh! 

GODESBY.  [Quickly.]  He's  taken  a  train  \  He's 
cleared  out !  . :  .  : 


THE    CLIMBERS  183 

WARDEN.  Do  you  know  if  he  took  a  bag  or 
anything  with  him? 

JESSICA.  No,  he  took  nothing  of  that  sort. 
Jordan  went  into  his  room  and  found  a  drawer 
open  and  empty,  a  drawer  in  which  Dick  kept  — 
a  pistol!  — 

[She  drops  her  voice  almost  to  a  whisper. 

WARDEN.    Good  God,  he's  shot  himself! 

JESSICA.   Perhaps  not  —  he  left  the  house. 

WARDEN.  Yes,  if  he  were  really  determined 
to  shoot  himself,  why  wouldn't  he  have  done  it 
there  in  his  own  room  ? 

JESSICA.   What  can  we  do  ?    What  can  we  do  ? 

WARDEN.  I'll  get  Mr.  Mason;  he's  with  your 
mother;  he  must  go  back  to  town  at  once. 

[Going  to  the  house. 

JESSICA.  He  can  go  with  me ;  I'd  better  be  at 
the  house.  Some  one  must  be  there. 


184  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.   Good! 

[He  goes  into  the  house. 

[Miss  GODESBY  and  her  brother  ignore  and 
apparently  forget  the  presence  of  JESSICA  in 
their  excitement.  They  both  speak  and  move 
excitedly. 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  ought  to  have  suspected 
something  when  Sterling  told  me  he  was  getting 
ten  per  cent  for  my  money,  —  the  blackguard ! 

GODESBY.  I  always  told  you  you  were  a  fool 
not  to  take  care  of  your  money  yourself!  You 
know  more  about  business  than  most  men. 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  didn't  want  to  be  bothered ; 
besides,  there  was  always  something  very  attractive 
about  Sterling.  I  don't  mind  telling  you  that  if 
he  had  fallen  in  love  with  me  instead  of  the  stiff- 
necked  woman  he  married,  I'd  have  tumbled  over 
myself  to  get  him. 


THE   CLIMBERS  185 

GODESBY.   How  do  you  feel  about  him  now? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Now !  Thank  God,  I'm  saved 
such  a  waking  up !  It's  going  to  make  a  big 
difference  with  my  income,  Howard !  I  wonder  if 
his  wife  knew  he  was  crooked !  I'll  bet  you  she's 
got  a  pot  of  money  stowed  away  all  right  in  her 
own  name. 

JESSICA.  [Who  can  bear  no  more,  interrupts.] 
Please  —  please  !  Remember  that  you're  speak- 
ing of  my  sister  and  that  every  word  you  are 
saying  cuts  through  me  like  a  knife. 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  beg  your  pardon ;  I  ought  to 
have  thought.  I  like  and  respect  you,  Jess,  and 
I've  been  very  rude. 

JESSICA.  You've  been  more  than  that;  you've 
been  cruelly  unjust  to  Blanche  in  all  that  you've 
said! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Perhaps  I  have,  but  I  don't 


186  THE    CLIMBERS 

feel  in  a  very  generous  mood ;  I've  some  excuse  — 
so  please  forgive  me. 

[WARDEN  reenters  Left. 

WARDEN.  [To  JESSICA.]  Mason  is  waiting  for 
you  with  the  sleigh.  He's  going  first  to  my  house. 
Dick  may  have  gone  back  there  to  hear  the  result 
of  my  interview  with  Ryder,  —  then  Mason'll 
try  his  own  house  and  Sterling's  club. 

GODESBY.  The  police  are  the  best  men  to  find 
Sterling,  whatever's  happened. 

WARDEN.  [To  GODESBY.]  You  wait  a  minute 
with  me;  I  haven't  finished  with  you  yet.  [To 
JESSICA.]  I'll  stay  here  for  your  sister,  in  case  she 
comes. 

[JESSICA  goes  out  Left. 

GODESBY.  [To  Miss  GODESBY.]  Don't  you 
give  in ! 

-Miss  GODESBY-.  Not  for  a- minute]  [To  WAR- 


THE   CLIMBERS  187 

DEN.]  Don't  you  think,  under  the  circumstances, 
the  wedding  breakfast  had  better  be  called  off, 
and  my  brother  and  I  go  back  to  town? 

WARDEN.  Not  till  you've  given  me  your  promise, 
both  of  you,  that  you  will  keep  silent  about  the 
embezzlement  of  your  bonds  for  the  sake  of 
Mrs.  Sterling  and  her  son. 

Miss  GODESBY.    [Half  laughs.]  Huh! 

WARDEN.  For  the  sake  of  her  mother,  who  is 
your  friend. 

[Sleigh-bells  start  up  loud  and  die  off  quickly; 
JESSICA  has  gone. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  come,  you  know  what  sort 
of  friends  we  are,  —  for  the  amusement  we  can  get 
out  of  each  other.  This  is  the  case,  —  I  trusted 
this  man  with  my  affairs.  He  was  very  attractive — 
I  don't  deny  that;  business  with- Dick  Sterling 
became  more  or  less  of -a  pleasure  —  but  -  that 


1 88  THE    CLIMBERS 

doesn't  cut  any  ice  with  me;  he's  stolen  my 
money.  To  put  it  plainly,  he's  a  common  thief, 
and  he  ought  to  be  punished ;  why  should  he  go 
scot  free  and  a  lot  of  others  not?  You  know 
perfectly  well  his  note  wouldn't  be  worth  the  paper 
it  was  written  on ;  and,  anyway,  if  he  hasn't  gone 
and  sneaked  out  of  the  world,  I  won't  lift  my  little 
finger  to  keep  him  from  the  punishment  he  de- 
serves ! 

GODESBY.   Good  for  you,  Julia! 

WARDEN.  Don't  you  put  your  oar  in,  Godesby ; 
just  let  this  matter  rest  between  your  sister  and 
me!  She's  always  been  known  as  the  best  man 
in  your  family. 

GODESBY.  You  don't  choose  a  very  conciliatory 
way  of  bringing  us  around! 

WARDEN.  I'm  not  choosing  any  way  at  all ;  I'm 
striking  right  out  from  the  shoulder.  There 


THE   CLIMBERS  189 

isn't  time  for  beating  round  the  bush !  I'm 
pleading  for  the  good  name  and  honorable  position 
of  a  perfectly  innocent,  a  fine,  woman,  and  for 
the  reputation  and  unimpeded  career  of  her  son ! 
And  I  make  that  appeal  as  man  to  man  and 
woman ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  have  nothing  to  do  with 
any  one  in  this  matter  but  Sterling  himself,  who 
has  robbed  me,  and  I'll  gladly  see  him  suffer  for  it ! 

WARDEN.  Now  look  here,  Miss  Godesby,  you 
belong  to  a  pretty  tough  crowd  in  society,  but  I 
know  at  heart  you're  not  a  bad  sort !  What  good 
will  it  do  you  ?  Granted  even  that  you  don't  care 
for  Mrs.  Sterling,  still  don't  tell  me  you're  the  kind 
of  woman  to  take  a  cruel  pleasure  in  seeing  another 
woman  suffer !  I  wouldn't  believe  it !  You're 
not  one  of  those  catty  creatures !  You're  a  clever 
woman,  and  I  don't  doubt  you  can  be  a  pretty 


igo  THE   CLIMBERS 

hard  one,  too,  at  times ;   but  you're  just  —  that's 
the  point  now  —  you're  JUST — 

Miss  GODESBY.  {Interrupting.}  Exactly!  I'm 
just,  an  eye  for  an  eye !  Sterling  is  a  thief,  let 
him  get  the  deserts  of  one! 

[She  sits  on  the  bench  determinedly. 

WARDEN.  But  you  can't  look  at  only  one 
side!  You  can't  shut  your  eyes  to  his  wife's 
suffering,  too,  and  she  doesn't  deserve  it !  Neither 
does  her  boy  deserve  to  share  his  disgrace.  [He 
sits  beside  her.]  Why,  you  have  it  in  your  power 
to  handicap  that  boy  through  his  whole  life  by 
publishing  his  father  a  criminal;  or  you  can  give 
that  boy  a  fair  show  to  prove  himself  more  his 
mother's  son  than  his  father's,  and  to  live  an 
honest  —  who  knows  —  perhaps  a  noble  life ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  refuse  to  accept  such  a  re- 
sponsibility. Ryder  — 


THE   CLIMBERS  191 

WARDEN.  [Rises,  interrupting  her.]  Ryder 'sword 
is  given  to  be  silent. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Well,  that's  his  lookout. 

WARDEN.  You'll  have  many  a  heart  wrench, 
I'll  bet  you !  You'll  have  to  run  across  the  results 
of  the  harm  you  do  to  Mrs.  Sterling  and  Richard 
day  in  and  day  out,  year  after  year!  I  don't 
believe  you  realize  what  it  means !  Why,  I  know 
you  can't  bear  to  see  a  dog  suffer !  I  met  you  last 
week  on  the  street  carrying  a  mangy,  crippled  brute 
of  a  little  dog  in  your  arms,  afraid  lest  he'd  get 
into  the  hands  of  the  vivisectionists,  and  yet  here 
you'll  let  a  boy  and  his  mother  — 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Interrupts  him,  struggling 
against  a  tiny  emotion  which  he  has  stirred.]  Stop ! 
Stop!  I  don't  want  you  working  on  my  feelings 
that  way. 

[She  rises  and  turns  from  him. 


I92  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  [Follows  her.]  I'm  only  knocking 
at  the  door  of  your  heart.  And  now  because  it's 
opened  just  a  tiny  way,  you  want  to  shut  it  in  my 
face  again.  Will  you  leave  this  woman's  name 
fit  for  her  to  use?  Won't  you  make  that  boy's 
life  worth  living  to  him? 

Miss  GODESBY.  [After  a  moment's  pause,  looks 
straight  into  WARDEN'S  face.]  I'll  tell  you  what 
I'll  do.  Get  me  some  security,  some  sort  of 
indorsement  of  Sterling's  note  — 

WARDEN.   If  the  man's  only  alive! 

Miss  GODESBY.  And  I'll  hold  my  tongue. 

WARDEN.   How  long  will  you  give  me? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  come,  I  can't  have  any 
monkey  business !  You  must  get  me  my  security 
to-day. 

WARDEN.  To-day? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Yes. 


THE   CLIMBERS  193 

WARDEN.  But  — 

Miss  GODESBY.   That's  my  last  word. 

GODESBY.   Stick  to  that,  Julia ! 

WARDEN.  I  shan't  try  to  persuade  her  against 
that.  Will  you  leave  your  sister  alone  with  me  a 
moment.  Perhaps  you'll  see  about  your  sleigh 
being  ready  to  return  to  town. 

GODESBY.   I've  no  objection  —  if  Julia  wishes  it. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Yes,  go  on,  Howard ! 

[GODESBY  goes  out  back  of  house. 

WARDEN.  [Left  alone  with  Miss  GODESBY,  goes 
nearer  to  her.]  Look  here !  Will  you  accept  my 
indorsement?  Will  7  be  all  right? 

Miss  GODESBY.    [Incredulously.]   Certainly. 

WARDEN.   Then  it's  settled? 

Miss  GODESBY.   You  don't  mean  it! 

WARDEN.  I  do. 

Miss  GODESBY.   You'd   be   willing   to   lose  — 


194  THE   CLIMBERS 

[A  revelation  comes  to  her.]  Oh  —  for  Mrs. 
Sterling!  I  see! 

WARDEN.  [Very  seriously.]  I  wouldn't.  I 
wouldn't  see. 

Miss  GODESBY.  And  she's  always  been  black- 
guarding me  for  my  affairs  with  men!  And  all 
the  time  — 

WARDEN.  [Interrupts  strongly.]  Don't  say  any 
more,  please,  Miss  Godesby!  I  only  wish 
your  brother  had  said  that  much  instead  of 
you. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Disagreeably.]  So  you're  in 
love  with  Blanche  Sterling? 

WARDEN.  No ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  come,  don't  tell  a  lie  about 
it;  that  will  only  make  it  seem  worse. 

WARDEN.  Well,  suppose  I  were  in  love  with  her 
—  what  of  it? 


THE   CLIMBERS  195 

Miss  GODESBY.  Nothing ;  only,  my  dear  War- 
den, that  woman  — 

WARDEN.  [Interrupts.]  Wait  a  minute !  You've 
got  me  in  a  corner,  but  knowing  half  the  truth, 
you  mustn't  guess  the  whole.  She  is  even  more  igno- 
rant of  my  love  for  her  than  you  were  ten  minutes 
ago!  [Miss  GODESBY  smiles  and  makes  a  little 
satirical  exclamation.]  You  don't  believe  that, 
but  I'll  make  you.  I'm  going  to  tell  you  some- 
thing I've  never  even  told  myself.  I'm  going 
to  put  you  to  a  big  test,  because  I've  got  to. 
Apparently,  I  can't  help  myself;  but  after  all, 
somehow  I  believe  in  the  human  nature  in  you, 
and  you've  got  it  in  your  power  to  help  or  hurt 
the  woman  I  love  —  I  say  those  words  aloud  for 
the  first  time  —  the  woman  I  love ! 

[He  has  finished  his  speech  in  a  lowered  tone 
throbbing  -with  controlled  feeling. 


196  THE    CLIMBERS 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Incredulously.]  You've  never 
told  her? 

WARDEN.  Never ;  and  you  show  how  little  you 
really  know  her  when  you  ask  that  question  !  She 
loves  her  husband. 

Miss  GODESBY.   I'm  not  so  sure  about  that! 

WARDEN.  I  am,  and  I  love  her.  But  surely  the 
silent  love  of  a  man,  like  mine,  is  no  insult  to  a 
good  woman  —  cannot  harm  her !  A  love  that 
is  never  spoken,  not  even  whispered,  can't  hurt 
any  one,  except,  perhaps,  the  one  who  loves.  You 
must  acknowledge  even  you  have  never  heard 
a  hint ;  you  showed  just  now  your  real  surprise  at 
what  circumstances  revealed  to  you !  I'd  die 
sooner  than  bring  the  slightest  shadow  of  a  scandal 
on  her,  and  I've  hugged  my  secret  tight.  Have 
you  any  idea  what  such  a  love  means?  How  it 
grows  and  grows,  its  strength  shut  in,  held  back, 


THE   CLIMBERS  197 

doubling  and  redoubling  its  powers! — its  ideality 
increasing,  the  passion  suppressed,  locked  up ! 
Good  God !  I  tremble  sometimes  when  I  think  — 
suppose  some  day  it  should  burst  out,  break  my 
control,  MASTER  ME  !  [A  pause.]  And  here,  now, 
I've  told  you;  I'm  sorry,  but  I  had  to  for  her  sake 
again.  Will  you  help  me  keep  my  secret? 

Miss  GODESBY.  [After  a  second's  pause.]  Yes, 
because  I  believe  you. 

WARDEN.   And  Mrs.  Sterling? 

Miss  GODESBY.  [Slowly,  with  sincere  meaning.] 
I  envy  her! 

[Her  voice  breaks  and  she  turns  away  from  him. 

WARDEN.  No  one  is  to  know  I  indorse  Sterling's 
note? 

Miss  GODESBY.  You  needn't  sign  the  note; 
my  brother 'd  have  to  see  it.  I'll  take  your  word 
for  the  indorsement. 


198  THE   CLIMBERS 

[She  offers  him  her  hand.     They  shake  hands. 

WARDEN.  What  a  brick  you  are!  You  know 
you  don't  do  yourself  anything  like  justice  in  the 
world ! 

[GoDESBY  reenters  Left  and  after  him  a  MAN 
SERVANT  in  ordinary  clothes,  who  passes 
through  the  archway  at  back  centre. 

GODESBY.   Ready! 

WARDEN.  [Aside  to  her.]  You  can  promise  his 
silence  about  Sterling? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  yes,  he's  absolutely  depend- 
ent upon  me. 

WARDEN.   Thank  you. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [To  NED  with  a  forced  gaiety.] 
Good-by ! 

WARDEN.  [Again  shaking  her  hand.]  Good-by. 
[He  looks  his  thanks  at  her. 

GODESBY.  Well?    What  did  you  do? 


THE   CLIMBERS  199 

Miss  GODESBY.  [/Is  they  go.]  Don't  worry; 
I've  taken  care  of  myself  for  many  years,  and  I 
still  feel  up  to  it! 

[They  go  out  Lejt  and  at  the  same  time  the  SER- 
VANT enters  from  the  archway  at  back  centre 
carrying  some  fire  logs  in  his  arms.    This  SER- 
VANT speaks  with  a  slight  French  accent.     As 
he  reaches  the  house,  WARDEN  stops  him  with 
a  question,  and  the  GODESBYS'  sleigh-bells  start 
up  and  quickly  die  away.     The  sun  begins  to  set. 
WARDEN.   Have  you  an  empty  sitting  room? 
SERVANT.   Yes,  sair. 
WARDEN.   Warm? 

SERVANT.   I  will  soon  arrange  a  fire. 
WARDEN.  I  wish  you  would,  please. 
SERVANT.   Ze    big   room    for    ze    breakfast   is 
altogether  ready  and  warm ;  you  will  be  able  to  go 
in  there  now. 


200  THE    CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  No,  that  wouldn't  do.  It's  all  right 
out  here  for  me,  only  I  am  expecting  a 
lady. 

[Sleigh-bells  are  heard  in  the  distance,  coming 

quickly  nearer. 
SERVANT.  Yes,  sair. 

WARDEN.  I  hear  a  sleigh  coming.  If  a  lady  is 
in  it,  ask  if  her  name  is  Mrs.  Sterling,  and  if  she 
says  yes,  tell  her  Mr.  Warden  is  here  and  would 
like  to  speak  with  her  a  moment  before  she  goes  in 
to  Mrs.  — 

[He  hesitates  a  second. 
SERVANT.  Trottair? 
WARDEN.  Yes. 
SERVANT.  Yes,  sair. 

[He  goes  into  the  house. 

[The  sun  grows  red,  and  the  colors  of  sunset 
creep  over  the  sky  during  the  scene  "which 


THE   CLIMBERS  201 

follows.  After  a  moment  the  SERVANT  shows 
BLANCHE  out  from  the  house. 

BLANCHE.  [Surprised  and  depressed.]  Good 
morning,  Mr.  Warden,  have  you  been  asked  to 
these  funeral  baked  meats? 

WARDEN.  No,  I'll  explain  why  I  am  here  in  a 
few  minutes.  Only  let  me  ask  you  first  when  you 
last  saw  your  husband? 

BLANCHE.   Early  this  morning. 

WARDEN.  And  you  have  come  just  now  from 
where  ? 

BLANCHE.  Aunt  Ruth's.  Of  course  you  know 
about  my  mother  ?  When  I  heard  it  I  started  to 
come  here,  but  my  heart  failed  me  and  I  turned 
back  to  my  aunt's.  She  has  persuaded  me  that  I 
ought  to  come  and  put  the  best  face  on  the  matter 
possible,  but  it  seems  as  if  I'd  had  now  a  little 
more  than  I  can  bear! 


202  THE   CLIMBERS 

[Her  voice  breaks  and  her  eyes  fill  with  tears. 

WARDEN.   [Almost  tenderly.]   Shall  we  go  inside  ? 

BLANCHE.  No,  no !  Let  us  stay  out  in  the  air ; 
my  head  would  burst  in  one  of  these  close  little 
rooms.  Have  you  seen  mother? 

WARDEN.   No,  not  yet. 

BLANCHE.  Where  is  Dick?  Did  he  go  to 
Ryder's? 

WARDEN.  No,  but  I  have  some  good  news  to 
tell  you  all  the  same  —  Ryder  has  promised  silence. 

BLANCHE.  [With  tremendous  relief.]  Oh !  that's 
too  good,  too  good  to  be  true !  To  whom  did  he 
promise  ? 

WARDEN.   I  want  you  not  to  ask  me  that. 

BLANCHE.   I  can  guess,  it  was  — 

WARDEN.   [Lying.]  No,  it  was  —  Mason. 

BLANCHE.   [Doubting  him.]  Mr.  Mason? 

WARDEN.  And  I've  more  good  news  for  you, 


THE    CLIMBERS  203 

Mrs.  Sterling  —  the  Godesbys,  too ;  they  will  be 
silent. 

BLANCHE.   You're  sure? 

WARDEN.   We  have  their  word! 

BLANCHE.  [Pointedly.]  Mr.  Mason  again?  — 
[WARDEN  bows  his  head  in  assent.]  He  was  here? 

WARDEN.  Some  time  ago,  but  only  for  a  minute. 
He  didn't  stay ;  he  went  to  find  your  husband. 

BLANCHE.  But  the  Godesbys?  I  just  met 
them  now  on  the  road  going  back.  How  could 
Mr.  Mason,  if  he  didn't  stay  —  [WARDEN  is 
embarrassed,  and  is  silent,  searching  a  way  out  of 
it.]  Oh,  no !  no  !  it  wasn't  Mr.  Mason !  I  see  the 
whole  thing  clearly.  Dick  was  too  great  a  coward, 
and  you  did  it !  It  was  you  who  won  over  Ryder ! 
It  was  you  who  persuaded  the  Godesbys!  — 
[WARDEN  shakes  his  head  and  makes  a  movement 
to  deny  it.  BLANCHE  continues  speaking,  the 


204  THE   CLIMBERS 

•words  rushing  to  her  lips,  as  her  pent-up  heart 
opens  and  lets  all  her  emotions  suddenly  free.] 
Don't  try  to  deny  it;  you  can't  make  me  believe 
you!  It's  to  you  I  owe  whatever  promise  the 
future  has  for  me !  It  is  you  who  have  given  me 
all  the  happiness  I've  had  for  years.  It  is  you 
who  have  watched  over,  taken  care  of,  me — you, 
the  best  friend  any  woman  in  this  world  ever  had. 
It  is  you  now  who  have  saved  my  boy's  honor. 
It  is  you  who  lift  the  weight  off  my  shoulders,  the 
weight  off  my  heart !  You !  —  you !  —  you ! 

[She  sinks  sobbing  on  the  bench.  It  begins  to 
snow  very  quietly  and  slowly. 

WARDEN.  [All  his  love  bursting  out  into  his 
face  and  into  his  voice,  cries.]  Blanche !  Blanche ! 

[Leaning  over  her  as  if  to  protect  her  from  her 
trouble  and  take  her  to  his  breast. 

BLANCHE.   [Rising    and    looking    straight    into 


THE    CLIMBERS  205 

his  eyes  with  a  suddenly  revealed  great  love  in  her 
own.]   Ned !  — 

[They  hold  this  position  some  moments,  gazing 
into  each  other's  eyes;  then  finally  WARDEN 
makes  a  movement  towards  her,  crying  out 
more  triumphantly,  having  read  and  realized 
her  love  for  him. 
WARDEN.  Blanche! 

BLANCHE.   [Moving  a  half  step  back  from  him.} 
No  — 

WARDEN.  No? 

BLANCHE.  Look  —  look,  it's  beginning  to  snow ! 
WARDEN.   [Very  softly.]  What  do  you  mean? 
BLANCHE.    [Desperately.]   I  mean  to  speak  of 
anything  except  what  is  in  your  thoughts  at  this 
moment !    Help  me  not  to  forget  that  no  matter 
what  he  has  done,  Dick  is  still  my  husband. 
WARDEN.  You  don't  know  all  he  has  done! 


206  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  How    not    "all"?     What    else? 
Where  is  he? 

[With  a  sudden  new  alarm. 

WARDEN.   He  has  left  you. 

BLANCHE.   [Echoes.]  Left  me?  — 

WARDEN.  Mason  is  searching  for  him.  He 
left  a  note  at  your  house  which  Jess  read ;  it  was 
only  one  word  "Good-by." 

BLANCHE.  [Echoes  again.]  Good-by!  [Sleigh- 
bells  are  heard  in  the  distance,  coming  quickly 
nearer.]  What  does  it  mean?  You're  hiding 
something  from  me !  Tell  me  what  else  you  know  ? 

WARDEN.  He  left  the  house,  but  took  some- 
thing with  him  —  something  from  a  drawer  in 
his  room. 

BLANCHE.  [After  a  second's  pause  she  whispers.] 
His  pistol? 

WARDEN.  Yes. 


THE   CLIMBERS  207 

BLANCHE.    [Aghast,    still    whispers.]     Has    he 
done  it? 

WARDEN.   I    don't    know;    I'm    waiting   word 
from  Mason. 

[The  sleigh-bells  stop. 

BLANCHE.   [Excited.]    But  we  can't  wait  here 
doing  nothing;  we  must  go,  too! 

WARDEN.   Mason  is  doing  all  that  can  be  done ; 
we'd  better  wait  here. 

[He  takes  her  hand  in  sympathy,  but  without 
suggesting  the  passion  of  a  few  moments  be- 
fore.    STERLING  enters  hurriedly  Left.    He  is 
wild  with  drink  and  jealousy. 
STERLING.   Drop  my  wife's  hand ! 

[They  turn  in  great  surprise. 
BLANCHE.   Dick! 

[Fright  at  his  appearance  is  mingled  with  her 
surprise. 


208  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  [At  the  same  time  as  BLANCHE.] 
Sterling ! 

[They  do  not  drop  hands. 

STERLING.  [Coming  nearer,  very  strong.]  Drop 
my  wife's  hand !  [They  do  so  quickly,  not  under- 
standing yet.]  So  I've  caught  you! 

WARDEN.   [Angry.]   Caught  us! 

STERLING.  Yes,  I  had  my  suspicions  roused 
some  time  ago! 

BLANCHE.   Of  what? 

STERLING.  7  could  go  to  the  devil  —  what  did 
you  two  care !  I  could  go  to  State's  Prison !  All 
the  better  —  out  of  your  way! 

WARDEN.   You're  speaking  like  a  madman! 

STERLING.  I  went  back  to  my  house  this 
morning ;  my  wife  was  gone  —  no  message  left 
where  to !  But  I  questioned  the  servant.  She'd 
driven  here!  Why?  Ha!  [A  bitter  half  laugh; 


THE    CLIMBERS  209 

lie  turns   to    BLANCHE.]    You've  come  here   once 
too  often! 

WARDEN.    [Very  strong.]   Sterling! 

STERLING.  [To  WARDEN,  but  ignoring  his 
exclamation.]  Then  I  went  to  your  house.  They 
knew  where  you'd  gone !  You  ought  to  train 
your  servants  better!  Both  here! 

WARDEN.  If  you're  not  careful,  I'll  ram  your 
insinuations  down  your  throat. 

STERLING.  [Jeers]  "Insinuations?"  I've 
caught  you!  I  make  no  "insinuations."  I  tell 
you  both  you're  caught!  You're  my  wife's 
lover,  and  she's  your  damned  mis — 

[Interrupted. 

WARDEN.  [Seizing  STERLING  by  the  throat] 
Don't  you  finish ! 

BLANCHE.  Sh !  — for  Heaven's  sake !  [To  WAR- 
DEN.] Let  him  alone;  I'm  not  afraid  of  what  he  says. 


2io  THE    CLIMBERS 

[WARDEN  leaves  STERLING. 

STERLING.  No,  you  never  were  a  liar,  I'll  give 
you  credit  for  that,  —  so  confess  the  truth  —  you're 
his  — 

[Interrupted. 

BLANCHE.  [Excited  beyond  her  control.]  Listen ! 
And  you  shall  have  the  truth  if  you  want  it !  These 
years  that  he's  been  befriending  me  I  never  dreamed 
of  loving  him  nor  thought  of  his  loving  me.  [DiCK 
sneers.]  Wait!  No,  not  even  the  day  my  father 
was  buried,  when  I  learned  outright  you  were 
dishonest  1 

STERLING.   [Surprised.]  What    do    you    mean? 

BLANCHE.  What  I  say  —  I  learned  it  then  from 
a  paper  of  my  father's.  I  shouldn't  have  kept  my 
knowledge  to  myself  —  I  see  that  now ;  but  I  did, 
for  your  sake,  not  for  love  of  you  —  the  love  went 
for  good  that  day.  But  here,  a  moment  ago,  I  real- 


THE   CLIMBERS  211 

ized  for  the  first  time  that  my  old  friend  did.  love  me, 
love  me  with  an  ideal  devotion  the  noblest  woman 
in  the  world  might  be  proud  of!  I  didn't  tell 
him  then  I  loved  him,  but  now  I  take  this  chance, 
I  take  it  GLADLY  before  you!  —  forced  by  you  I 
I  tell  him  now,  what  perhaps  he  has  already 
guessed,  I  love  him  with  all  my  heart  —  I  love  him  I 
I  LOVE  HIM  ! 

STERLING.  Damn  you  both!  then  it's  the  end 
of  me! 

[He  pulls  out  a  pistol  and  tries  to  put  it  to  his 
temple. 

BLANCHE.   [Cries  out.]  Ned! 

WARDEN.  [Seizes  STERLING,  catches  his  arm, 
and  wrenches  the  pistol  from  him.}  So  that's  what 
you  planned  to  do,  is  it  —  make  a  wretched  scene 
like  that? 

[//  begins  to  snow  more  heavily. 


212  THE    CLIMBERS 

STERLING.  [In  utter  collapse  and  shame.]  Why 
did  you  stop  me?  I'm  better  out  of  the  world. 
I'm  crazy  with  shame.  First  I  disgraced  and  now 
I've  insulted  —  degraded  —  the  only  living  thing  I 
care  for,  —  that's  my  wife. 

[A  moment's  pause. 

BLANCHE.  [Speaks  quietly.]  Come  back  to  the 
house.  Mr.  Mason  is  looking  for  you;  he  has 
something  to  tell  you. 

STERLING.   I  know  —  more  bad  news. 

BLANCHE.   No,  good. 

STERLING.  [Echoes.]  Good!  [Starting  to  go,  he 
turns  at  the  porch.]  I  want  you  to  know  that  7 
know  I'm  a  rotten  beast. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

WARDEN.   You're  going  back  home? 

BLANCHE.  "Home!"  [With  a  faint  smile.]  I 
should  hardly  call  it  that. 


THE   CLIMBERS  213 

WARDEN.    [Aside  to  her.]    You're  not  afraid  ? 
BLANCHE.   [Hal}  smiling.]  Oh,  no!       And  my 
boy's  there. 

[The  thick  /ailing  snow  almost  hides  them,  but 

they  are  unconscious  of  it. 
WARDEN.   What's  to  be  done? 
BLANCHE.   Wait ;    we'll    see  —  we'll    see  —  let 
it  be  something  we  could  never  regret.     Good-by, 
Ned. 

[Giving  him  her  hand. 
WARDEN.    Good-by,  Blanche. 
[Kissing    her   hand   -very   tenderly   and   almost 
with  a  certain  kind  of  awe,  as 

THE  CURTAIN   SLOWLY  FALLS 


ACT  IV 

The  following  morning;  at  the  STERLINGS'  ;  the 
library;  a  warm,  livable,  and  lovable  room,  full 
of  pictures,  photographs,  and  books;  mistletoe 
and  holly  decorate  everywhere.  In  the  bow- 
window  at  back  there  is  a  large  bird-cage  with 
half  a  dozen  birds  in  it.  The  furniture  is 
comfortable  and  heavily  upholstered.  At  Left 
there  is  a  fireplace  with  logs  ready,  but  the  fire  is 
not  lit.  There  a  big  table  near  the  centre,  full  of 
magazines,  illustrated  papers,  and  books.  A  big 
arm-chair  is  beside  the  table,  and  other  chairs 
conversationally  close.  There  is  a  table  near  the 
door  at  Right,  piled  with  Christmas  gifts,  still 
wrapped  in  white  paper;  they  are  tied  with  many 
314 


THE    CLIMBERS  215 

colored,  ribbons  and  bunches  of  holly.  There  are 
doors  Right  and  Left.  After  the  curtain  rises  on 
an  empty  stage,  RUTH  enters  quickly;  while  she 
has  her  buoyant  manner,  she  is,  of  course,  more 
serious  than  usual.  She  carries  a  bunch  of  fresh 
violets  in  her  hand.  She  looks  about  the  room  with 
a  sort  of  curiosity.  She  is  waiting  for  some  one 
to  appear.  She  takes  up  a  silver-framed  pho- 
tograph of  her  brother  which  stands  on  a  table 
and  speaks  aloud  to  it. 

RUTH.  I'm  glad  you're  spared  this.  [With  a 
long-drawn  breath  she  places  the  photograph  back 
upon  the  table  and  turns  to  greet  BLANCHE,  who 
comes  in  Right.}  Good  morning,  my  dear. 

[She  kisses  her. 

BLANCHE.  Good  morning.  You've  had  my 
note?  [RUTH  nods.]  Thank  you.  I  wanted  to 


216  THE    CLIMBERS 

see  you  before  I  saw  any  one  else.     You  must 
help  me  decide,  only  you  can. 

RUTH.  Have  you  seen  your  husband  this 
morning  ? 

BLANCHE.  No.  He  sent  word  he  was  feeling 
ill,  but  would  like  to  see  me  when  I  was  willing. 

RUTH.  And  you? 

[They  sit  near  each  other. 

BLANCHE.  I  don't  want  to  talk  with  him  till 
I  see  more  clearly  what  I  am  going  to  do. 

RUTH.  Mr.  Warden  told  me  last  night  all 
that  happened  at  "The  Hermitage."  But  on 
your  ride  home  with  Dick? 

BLANCHE.  We  never  spoke.  [She  rises.]  Aunt 
Ruth,  I  am  going  to  leave  him. 

RUTH.   [Rising.]  No! 

BLANCHE.  [Walking  up  and  down.]  Why  not? 
Everybody  does. 


THE   CLIMBERS  217 

RUTH.  [Going  to  her.]  That's  just  it.  Be 
somebody!  Don't  do  the  easy,  weak  thing.  Be 
strong ;  be  an  example  to  other  women.  Heaven 
knows  it's  time  they  had  one ! 

[MRS.  HUNTER  enters  Right.  BLANCHE  meets 
her. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Good  morning,  my  poor  dear. 
[Going  to  kiss  BLANCHE. 

BLANCHE.  [Taking  MRS.  HUNTER'S  hand  and 
not  kissing  her.]  Good  morning. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Clara's  gone  upstairs  to  see 
little  Richard.  Good  morning,  Ruth. 

[She  adds  this  with  a  manner  of  being 
on  the  defensive. 

RUTH.    [Dryly.]   Good  morning. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Sitting  by  the  table  and  looking 
at  the  picture  papers.]  Isn't  it  awful!  What  are 
you  going  to  do? 


2l8  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.   I  don't  know  yet,  mother. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Don't  know?  Absolute  divorce 
—  no  legal  separation !  [To  RUTH.]  We're  stay- 
ing at  the  Waldorf. 

[BLANCHE  sits  discouragedly  on  the  sofa. 

RUTH.  [Sitting  beside  her.]  I  shall  advise 
against,  and  do  everything  in  my  power  to  prevent, 
Blanche's  getting  a  divorce ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  You  don't  mean  to  say  you'll 
carry  those  ridiculous  notions  of  yours  into  prac- 
tice ?  —  now  that  a  scandal  has  come  into  our  very 
family  ? 

RUTH.  Oh,  I  know  selfish,  cynical,  and  worldly 
people  won't  agree  with  me,  and  I  pity  and  sym- 
pathize with  Blanche  from  the  bottom  of  my 
heart.  [Taking  and  holding  BLANCHE'S  hand.] 
But  I  want  her  not  to  decide  anything  now;  wait 
till  the  first  blows  over,  and  then  —  well,  then  I 


THE   CLIMBERS  219 

feel  sure  she  will  do  the  strong,  noble  thing  — 
the  difficult  thing  —  not  the  easy. 

BLANCHE.  [Withdraws  her  hand  from  RUTH'S.] 
No,  you  ask  too  much  of  me,  Aunt  Ruth;  I  can't 
do  it. 

RUTH.   I  say  don't  decide  now  —  wait. 

BLANCHE.  I  don't  want  to  wait.  I  want  to  decide 
now  and  to  cut  my  life  free,  entirely,  from  Dick's. 

RUTH.  You  used  to  agree  with  me.  I've  heard 
you  decry  these  snapshot,  rapid-transit,  tunnel 
divorces  many  a  time.  I've  heard  you  say  when 
a  woman  has  made  her  bed,  she  must  lie  in  it  — 
make  the  best  of  her  bad  bargain. 

BLANCHE.  I  always  sympathized  with  a  woman 
who  sought  a  divorce  in  this  state. 

RUTH.    Oh,  yes,  but  you  can't,  can  you? 

BLANCHE.  No,  but  I'm  not  strong  enough  to 
fight  out  an  unhappy  life  for  the  sake  of  setting  an 


220  THE   CLIMBERS 

example  to  other  women  —  women  who  don't 
want  the  example  set! 

RUTH.  Blanche,  I  counted  on  you  to  be  strong, 
to  be  big  — 

BLANCHE.  [With  a  -voice  full  of  emotion.]  But 
I  love  Ned  Warden.  He  loves  me  —  life  stretches 
out  long  before  us.  Dick  has  disgraced  us  all. 
I  don't  love  him  —  should  I  give  my  happiness  and 
Mr.  Warden's  happiness  for  him? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Absurd !  We  all  have  a  right 
to  happiness  if  we  can  get  it.  I  have  chosen;  let 
Blanche  follow  my  example. 

BLANCHE.   [Disgusted.]   Yours?  [Rises.]   Oh! 

RUTH.  [Following  up  the  advantage.]  Yes, 
Blanche,  do  you  want  to  follow  your  mother's 
example  ? 

BLANCHE.  No!  But  the  cases  are  not  analo- 
gous! 


THE   CLIMBERS  221 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Not  what?  You  needn't  fling 
any  innuendoes  at  Mr.  Trotter;  it's  he  who  said 
it  was  my  duty  to  stand  by  you,  advise  you,  and 
all  that  sort  of  thing.  I'm  not  here  to  please 
myself!  Goodness  knows,  a  divorce  court  isn't 
a  very  pleasant  place  to  spend  your  honeymoon! 

BLANCHE.  Thank  both  you  and  Mr.  Trotter, 
mother;  but  I  ask  you  to  allow  Aunt  Ruth  and  me 
to  decide  this  matter  between  us. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Trotter  says  divorce  was  made 
for  woman ! 

RUTH.  And  what  was  made  for  man,  please? 
Polygamy  ? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  I  don't  know  anything  about 
politics !  But  I  could  count  a  dozen  women  in  a 
breath,  all  divorced,  or  trying  to  be,  or  ought  to  be ! 

RUTH.  And  each  one  of  them  getting  a  cold 
shoulder. 


222  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  What  of  it  if  their  hearts  are  warm  — 
poor  climbers  after  happiness! 

RUTH.  Believe  me,  dear,  the  chill  spreads. 
You're  going  to  be  selfish? 

MRS.  HUNTER.   She's  going  to  be  sensible. 

[CLARA  enters  Right. 

CLARA.  Hello,  everybody!  I  just  saw  Dick 
coming  out  of  his  room  and  I  cut  him  dead. 

BLANCHE.   Clara ! 

RUTH.  [To  BLANCHE.]  You've  taken  a  certain 
responsibility  upon  yourself,  and  you  can't  shirk  it. 

BLANCHE.   He  isn't  what  I  thought  him! 

RUTH.  The  day  the  sun  shone  on  you  as  a 
bride,  in  God's  presence,  you  said  you  took  him 
for  better  for  worse  — 

CLARA.  Dear  me,  is  that  in  it?  The  marriage 
service  ought  to  be  expurgated! 

RUTH.   [To  CLARA.]  I'm  ashamed  of  you. 


THE   CLIMBERS  223 

CLARA.   That's  nothing  new! 

BLANCHE.  Aunt  Ruth,  let  us  talk  some  other 
time. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Oh,  if  we  are  in  the  way,  we'll  go ! 

[Rises. 

CLARA.   Yes,  come  on,  let's  go  to  Atlantic  City. 

MRS.  HUNTER.   No,  I'd  rather  go  to  Lakewood. 

CLARA.  Oh,  pshaw,  Lakewood's  no  fun !  I'm 
surprised  you  don't  say  go  to  Aiken,  North  Carolina. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Mr.  Trotter  says  we  can't 
leave  town  anyway  while  Blanche  is  in  this 
trouble. 

BLANCHE.  Mother,  please  discuss  your  affairs 
somewhere  else. 

RUTH.  And  if  I  may  be  permitted  to  suggest, 
you  will  find  Mr.  Trotter's  advice  always  pretty 
good  to  follow.  That  young  man  has  better 
qualities  than  we  have  suspected.  I  have  some- 


224  THE   CLIMBERS 

thing  to  thank  him  for ;  will  you  be  good  enough 
to  ask  him  to  come  and  see  me? 

MRS.  HUNTER.  He  will  not  go  to  your  house 
with  my  permission.  I  shall  tell  him  you  have 
never  asked  me  inside  your  door. 

CLARA.  Mother,  if  you  ask  me  —  [MRS.  HUN- 
TER Interjects  ''Which  I  don't,''  but  CLARA  con- 
tinues without  paying  any  attention  to  the  interrup- 
tion.] —  I  don't  think  Mr.  Trotter  is  going  to  cry 
himself  to  sleep  for  your  permission  about  any- 
thing ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [To  BLANCHE.]  Good-by,  my 
dear;  if  you  want  me,  let  me  know;  I'll  be  glad 
to  do  anything  I  can.  I'm  staying  at  the  Waldorf. 

CLARA.  It's  full  of  people  from  Kansas  and 
Wyoming  Territory  come  to  hear  the  Opera! 

RUTH.  A  little  western  blood  wouldn't  hurt 
our  New  York  life  a  bit! 


THE   CLIMBERS  225 

CLARA.  Ah!  Got  you  there!  The  west  is 
the  place  where  the  divorces  come  from ! 

MRS.  HUNTER.  [Laughs.]  What's  the  matter 
with  Providence?  I  think  Rhode  Island  tips  the 
scales  pretty  even  for  the  east ! 

BLANCHE.  Please  go,  mother;  please  leave  me 
for  a  little  while. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  Oh,  very  well,  good-by !  [LEON- 
ARD enters  Right  with  a  Christmas  parcel,  which  he 
places  on  the  table  Right.]  Dear  me,  have  you  had 
all  these  Christmas  presents  and  not  opened  them  ? 

BLANCHE.  It  is  only  little  Richard  in  this  house 
who  is  celebrating  Christmas  to-day. 

MRS.  HUNTER.  It's  a  terrible  affair;  I  only 
hope  the  newspapers  won't  get  hold  of  it.  [To 
LEONARD.]  If  any  women  come  here  asking  for 
me  who  look  like  ladies,  don't  let  'em  in !  They 
ain't  my  friends;  they're  reporters. 
Q 


226  THE    CLIMBERS 

[LEONARD  bows  and  goes  out. 

CLARA.  I'm  awfully  sorry,  Blanche,  I  honestly 
am;  but  I  think  you'll  have  only  yourself  to  blame 
if  you  don't  strike  out  now  and  throw  Dick  over. 
Good-by ! 

[MRS.  HUNTER  and  CLARA  go  out  Right. 

BLANCHE.  I  wish  they  wouldn't  advise  me  to  do 
what  I  want  to. 

RUTH.  Ah! 

BLANCHE.  But  who  do  I  harm  by  it?  Surely, 
it  wouldn't  be  for  his  good  to  be  brought  up  under 
the  influence  of  his  father! 

RUTH.  If  he  saw  you  patiently  bearing  a  cross 
for  the  sake  of  duty,  can  you  imagine  a  stronger 
force  for  good  on  the  boy's  character?  What  an 
example  you  will  set  him!  What  a  chance  for  a 
mother ! 

BLANCHE.   But  my  own  life,  my  own  happiness  ? 


THE   CLIMBERS  227 

RUTH.  Ah,  my  dear,  that's  just  it !  The  watch- 
word of  our  age  is  self!  We  are  all  for  ourselves; 
the  twentieth  century  is  to  be  a  glorification  of 
selfishness,  the  Era  of  Egotism !  Forget  yourself, 
and  what  would  you  do?  The  dignified  thing. 
You  would  live  quietly  beside  your  husband  if 
not  with  him.  And  your  son  would  be  worthy 
of  such  a  mother! 

BLANCHE.  And  I? 

RUTH.   You  would  be  glad  in  the  end. 

BLANCHE.   Perhaps  — 

RUTH.  Surely !  Blanche,  for  twenty  years  Mr. 
Mason  and  I  have  loved  each  other. 

[BLANCHE  is  astonished.     There  is  a  pause. 

[RuTH    smiles    while    she   speaks,   though  her 

voice   breaks.] 

You    never    guessed !       Ah,     well,    your  father 
knew. 


228  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  But  Mrs.  Mason  is  hopelessly  insane; 
surely  — 

RUTH.  A  principle  is  a  principle;  I  took  my 
stand  against  divorce.  What  can  you  do  for  a 
principle  if  you  don't  give  up  everything  for  it? 
Nothing!  And  that  is  what  I  mean.  To-day  I 
am  not  sorry  —  I  am  happy. 

[There  is  another  slight  pause.  RICHARD  is 
heard  upstairs  singing  a  Christmas  carol, 
"Once  in  Royal  David's  City,"  etc. 

BLANCHE.  [With  great  emotion.]  But  if  it 
breaks  my  heart  —  if  it  breaks  my  heart  ? 

RUTH.  Hearts  don't  break  from  the  pain  that 
comes  of  doing  right,  but  from  the  sorrow  of  doing 
wrong!  [Neither  woman  speaks  for  a  minute;  in 
the  silence  RUTH  hears  RICHARD.]  What's  that? 

BLANCHE.  [Hearing  now  for  the  first  time.] 
Richard  singing  one  of  his  carols. 


THE    CLIMBERS  229 

RUTH.   I'd  forgotten  it  was  Christmas. 

[LEONARD  enters  Left. 

LEONARD.    Doctor  Steinhart  is  here  to  see  Mr. 
Sterling.       Where   shall  I    show  him,  madame? 
BLANCHE.   Here;  we'll  go  — 

[Rising. 
LEONARD.   Yes,  madame. 

[He  goes  out. 

RUTH.   Well?    What  are  you  going  to  do? 
BLANCHE.   I'm    thinking  — 
RUTH.   May  I  come  with  you,  or  shall  I  — 
BLANCHE.   No,  come. 

[The  two  women  start  to  leave  the  room  together 
Right,  with  their  arms  around  each  other. 
They  meet  STERLING,  who  enters;  he  starts, 
they  stop. 

STERLING.   I  beg  your  pardon,  I  didn't  know 
you  were  here. 


230  THE   CLIMBERS 

BLANCHE.  We  are  going  to  my  room;  I  am  sorry 
you  are  not  well. 

STERLING.   Oh,  it's  nothing,  thank  you. 

RUTH.  If  we  can  do  anything,  let  us 
know. 

STERLING.  [Overwhelmed  with  shame,  bows  his 
head.]  Thank  you. 

[The  women  go  out  Right.  At  the  same  moment 
DR.  STEINHART  is  shown  in  by  LEONARD  Left. 

DR.  STEINHART.   Good  morning,  Sterling. 

STERLING.   Good  morning,  doctor;   sit  down. 

DR.  STEINHART.  No,  thanks,  I'm  very  rushed 
this  morning.  What  can  I  do  for  you? 

STERLING.  I've  been  drinking  too  much  for  some 
time;  I  can't  eat  — my  nerves  are  all  gone  to 
pieces.  I've  some  —  some  business  troubles,  and 
I  haven't  slept  for  a  week. 

DR.  STEINHART.   Is  that  all !    Brace  up,  help 


THE   CLIMBERS  231 

yourself  a  little,  and  we  can  soon  make  a  man  of 
you. 

STERLING.  I'm  afraid  it  would  take  more  than  a 
doctor  to  do  that. 

DR.  STEINHART.  Oh,  come,  we  must  get  rid 
of  melancholy.  Come  and  drive  with  me  to 
7Qth  Street. 

STERLING.  No,  I'm  too  worn  out.  Look  at  my 
hand !  [Holds  out  a  trembling  hand.]  I  tell  you 
literally  I  haven't  slept  for  weeks  —  I  thought 
you'd  give  me  some  chloral  or  something. 

DR.  STEINHART.   What?    Now? 

STERLING.  Yes;  I've  tried  sulphonal  and  all  that 
rot;  it  doesn't  have  any  effect  on  me.  Give  me  a 
hypodermic  — 

DR.  STEINHART.  Nonsense !  Come  out  into 
the  air ! 

STERLING.  I've  been  out. 


232  THE   CLIMBERS 

DR.  STEINHART.  Good!  Then  try  lying  down 
again,  and  perhaps  you'll  go  to  sleep  now. 

STERLING.  Very  well,  but  give  me  something  to 
take  to-night  in  case  I  can't  sleep  then. 

DR.  STEINHART.  [Takes  out  a  note-book  and 
writes  with  a  stylo  graphic  pen.}  Be  careful  what  you 
eat  to-day.  How  about  this  drinking  —  did  your 
business  trouble  come  after  it  began,  or  did  the 
whiskey  come  after  the  business  trouble? 

STERLING.   That's  it. 

DR.  STEINHART.  Um  —  [Giving  STERLING  the 
paper  which  he  tears  out  of  his  note-book.]  Look 
here,  I've  a  busy  day  before  me;  but  I'll  look  in 
to-morrow,  and  we'll  have  a  good  talk. 

STERLING.   Thank  you.     I  say,  what  is  this  ? 

DR.  STEINHART.  It's  all  right.  Sulphate  of 
morphia  —  one-quarter-grain  tablets. 

STERLING.  Isn't  that  very  little? 


THE   CLIMBERS  233 

DR.  STEINHART.  Oh,  no;  you  try  one,  and  repeat 
in  an  hour  if  it  hasn't  done  its  work. 

STERLING.  But  you've  only  given  me  two  tablets, 
and  I  tell  you  I'm  awfully  hard  to  influence ! 

DR.  STEINHART.  Two's  enough;  we  don't  give 
a  lot  of  drugs  to  a  man  in  a  nervous  condition  like 
yours.  Don't  let  them  wake  you  for  luncheon  if 
you're  asleep.  Sleep's  best  for  you.  Good-by 
—  pleasant  dreams. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

STERLING.  [Reads  off  the  prescription.]  "Two 
one-quarter-grain  tablets  sulphate  of  morphia, 
Wm.  B.  Steinhart  —  "  And  in  ink!  Why  didn't 
he  write  it  with  a  lead-pencil  ?  How  can  I  make  it 
more  ?  Two  —  wait  a  minute !  Two !  [Taking 
out  his  own  stylo  graphic  pen.]  What's  his  ink? 
[Makes  a  mark  with  his  pen  on  his  cuff.]  Good ! 
the  same !  Why  not  make  it  twelve  ?  [Marking 


234  THE   CLIMBERS 

a  one  before  the  two.]  Just  in  case  —  I  might  as 
well  be  on  the  safe  side ! 

[He  rings  an  electric  bell  beside  the  mantel,  and 
waves  the  paper  in  the  air  to  dry  it.  BLANCHE 
enters  Right. 

BLANCHE.  I  heard  the  doctor  go.     Is  anything 
serious  the  matter? 
STERLING.  //  it  were  my  body  only  that  had  gone 

wrong,  Blanche ! 

[LEONARD  enters  Left. 

[To  LEONARD.]  Take  this  prescription  round  the 
corner  and  have  it  put  up. 

LEONARD.  Yes,  sir. 

STERLING.  And  bring  it  to  me  with  a  glass  of 
water. 

LEONARD.  Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

[BLANCHE  is  still  standing.  STERLING  sinks  into 
a  chair,  and  puts  his  head  in  his  hands,  his 


THE   CLIMBERS  235 

elbows  on  the  table.    He  lifts  his  head  and 
looks  at  her. 

STERLING.   I  know  what  you're  going  to  do; 
you  don't  have  to  tell  me;  of  course  you're  going  to 
divorce  me. 
BLANCHE.  No. 
STERLING.  What! 
[His  hands  drop  to  the  table;  he  looks  her  straight 

in  the  face,  doubting  what  he  hears. 
BLANCHE.   [Looking  back   into   his   eyes.]  No. 
STERLING.   [Cries.]  Blanche! 

[In  a  tone  of  amazement  and  joy. 
BLANCHE.   I   give   you   one   more   chance,   for 
your  sake  only  as  my  boy's  father.     But  —  don't 
make  it  impossible  for  me  —  do  you  understand  ? 
STERLING.   Yes!    I  must  take  the  true  advan- 
tage of  this  chance  your  goodness  gives  me.     I  must 
right  myself,  so  that  people  need  not  hesitate  to 


236  THE   CLIMBERS 

speak  of  his  father  in  Richard's  presence.  And 
this  I  will  do.  [With  great  conviction  he  rises.] 
I  know  I  am  at  the  cross-roads,  and  I  know  the 
way;  but  I  don't  choose  it  for  your  reasons;  I 
choose  for  my  own  reason  —  which  is  that,  unfit  as 
/  am,  I  love  you. 

[He  speaks  deliberately  and  with  real  feeling, 
bending  over  her. 

BLANCHE.  I  tell  you  truly  my  love  for  you  is 
gone  for  good. 

STERLING.  I'll  win  it  back  —  you  did  love  me, 
you  did,  didn't  you,  Blanche? 

BLANCHE.  I  loved  the  man  I  thought  you  were. 
Do  you  remember  that  day  in  the  mountains  when 
we  first  really  came  to  know  each  other,  when  we 
walked  many,  many  miles  without  dreaming  of 
being  tired? 

STERLING.  And  found  ourselves  at  sunset  at  the 


THE   CLIMBERS  237 

top  instead  of  below,  by  our  hotel !  Oh,  yes,  I 
remember!  The  world  changed  for  me  that  day. 

[He  sinks  back  into  the  arm-chair,  overcome,  in 
his  weakened  state,  by  his  memories  and  his 
realization  of  what  he  has  made  of  the  present. 

BLANCHE.  And  for  me!  I  knew  then  for  the 
first  time  you  loved  me,  and  that  I  loved  you.  Oh ! 
how  short  life  of  a  sudden  seemed!  Not  half 
long  enough  for  the  happiness  it  held  for  me! 
[She  turns  upon  him  with  a  vivid  change  of  feeling.] 
Has  it  turned  out  so? 

STERLING.  How  different !  Oh,  what  a  beast ! 
what  a  fool ! 

BLANCHE.  [Speaking  with  pathetic  emotion, 
tears  in  her  throat  and  in  her  eyes.]  And  that 
early  summer's  day  you  asked  me  to  be  your  wife ! 
[She  gives  a  little  exclamation,  half  a  sob,  half  a 
laugh.]  It  was  in  the  corner  of  the  garden  j  I  can 


238  THE    CLIMBERS 

smell  the  lilacs  now!  And  the  raindrops  fell 
from  the  branches  as  my  happy  tears  did  on 
father's  shoulder  that  night,  when  I  said,  "Father, 
he  will  make  me  the  happiest  woman  in  the  world ! " 

STERLING.    O  God !  to  have  your  love  back ! 

BLANCHE.  You  can't  breathe  life  back  into  a 
dead  thing;  how  different  the  world  would  be  if 
one  could! 

STERLING.  You  can  bring  back  life  to  the 
drowned ;  perhaps  your  love  is  only  drowned  in 
the  sorrow  I've  caused. 

BLANCHE.  [Smiles  sadly  and  shakes  her  head; 
the  smile  dies  away.]  Life  to  me  then  was  like  a 
glorious  staircase,  and  I  mounted  happy  step  after 
step  led  by  your  hand  till  everything  seemed  to 
culminate  on  the  day  of  our  wedding.  You  men 
don't,  can't  realize,  what  that  service  means  to  a 
girl.  In  those  few  moments  she  parts  from  all 


THE   CLIMBERS  239 

that  have  cherished  her,  made  her  life,  and  gives 
her  whole  self,  her  love,  her  body,  and  even  her 
soul  sometimes  —  for  love  often  overwhelms  us 
women  —  to  the  man  who,  she  believes,  wants, 
starves,  for  her  gifts.  All  that  a  woman  who 
marries  for  love  feels  at  the  altar  I  tell  you  a  man 
can't  understand  !  You  treated  this  gift  of  mine, 
Dick,  like  a  child  does  a  Santa  Claus  plaything  — 
for  a  while  you  were  never  happy  away  from  it, 
then  you  grew  accustomed  to  it,  then  you  broke 
it,  and  now  you  have  even  lost  the  broken  pieces ! 

STERLING.  [Comes  to  her,  growing  more  and  more 
determined.]  I  will  find  them,  and  put  them 
together  again. 

BLANCHE.  [Again  smiles  sadly  and  shakes  her 
head.]  First  we  made  of  every  Tuesday  a  festival  — 
our  wedding  anniversary.  After  a  while  we  kept 
the  twenty-eighth  of  every  month!  The  second 


24o  THE    CLIMBERS 

year  you  were  satisfied  with  the  twenty-eighth  of 
April  only,  and  last  year  you  forgot  the  day  alto- 
gether. And  yet  what  a  happy  first  year  it  was! 

STERLING.  Ah,  you  see  I  did,  make  you  happy 
once! 

BLANCHE.  Blessedly  happy !  Our  long  silences 
in  those  days  were  not  broken  by  an  oath  and  a 
fling  out  of  the  room.  Oh,  the  happiness  it  means 
to  a  wife  to  see  it  is  hard  for  her  husband  to  leave 
her  in  the  morning,  and  to  be  taken  so  quickly  — 
even  roughly  —  into  his  arms  at  night  that  she 
knows  he  has  been  longing  to  come  back  to  her. 
Nothing  grew  tame  that  first  year.  And  at  its  end  I 
climbed  to  the  highest  step  I  had  reached  yet,  when 
you  leaned  over  my  bed  and  cried  big  man's  tears, 
the  first  I'd  ever  seen  you  cry,  and  kissed  me  first, 
and  then  little  Richard  lying  on  my  warm  arm,  and 
said,  "God  bless  you,  little  mother."  [There  is  a 
pause.  BLANCHE  cries  softly  a  moment.  STERLING 


THE    CLIMBERS  241 

is  silent,  ashamed.  Again  she  turns  upon  him,  rous- 
ing herself,  but  with  a  voice  broken  with  emotion.] 
And  what  a  bad  father  you've  been  to  that  boy! 
STERLING.  I  didn't  mean  to !  That's  done,  that's 
past,  but  Richard's  my  boy.  I'll  make  him  proud 
of  me,  somehow !  I'll  win  your  love  back  —  you'll 
see! 

[BLANCHE  is  about  to  speak  in  remonstrance,  but 
stops  because  0}  the  entrance  of  LEONARD. 
He  brings  a  small  chemist's  box  of  tablets  in 
an  envelope  and  a  glass  of  water  on  a  small  silver 
tray. 
LEONARD.  Your  medicine,  sir. 

[He  puts  it  on  the  table  and  goes  out  Right. 
STERLING.   Thank  you,  thank  you! 

[He  takes  the  box  of  tablets  out  of  the  envelope. 
BLANCHE.   [Going   to   him.]    You   don't   realize 
why  I've  told  you  all  this! 


242  THE    CLIMBERS 

STERLING.   [Counting  out  the  tablets.]  One,  two. 
To  give  me  hope !     To  give  me  hope ! 

[He  empties  the  other  ten  tablets  into  the  envelope, 

twists  it  up,  and  throws  it  in  the  fireplace. 
BLANCHE.  No,  no,  just  the  opposite! 
STERLING.    Then   you've    defeated    your  end, 
dear;  you  will  stay  here  with  me. 

BLANCHE.   [Trying    to    make    him    realize    the 
exact  position.]   Opposite  you  at  the  table,  receiving 
our  friends,  keeping  up  appearances,  yes  —  but 
nearer  to  you  than  that  ?    No !     Never ! 
STERLING.   But  you  will  stay? 

[LEONARD  enters  from  Left. 
LEONARD.   Miss  Godesby,  Mr.  Warden. 

[They  enter. 

[All  greet  each  other.    WARDEN  nods  stiffly  to 

STERLING,  barely  acknowledging  his  greeting. 

Miss  GODESBY.  [To  STERLING,  purposely  speak- 


THE   CLIMBERS  243 

ing  with  good-humored  raillery  to  relieve  the  tension 
of  the  situation.]  Well,  you're  a  nice  lot,  aren't  you  ? 

STERLING.   I'm  so  ashamed !    I'm  so  ashamed ! 

Miss  GODESBY.    Oh,  never  mind  that  now. 

BLANCHE.   I  have  no  words  to  thank  you  with. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Oh,  that's  all  right.  The 
truth  is,  I've  made  Warden  bring  me  here,  Sterling, 
for  a  bit  of  business.  I  had  an  emotional  moment 
yesterday  and  went  off  my  head  a  bit.  I  stand 
by  what  I  said  as  to  keeping  quiet,  but  —  well, 
I'm  like  any  other  old  maid  who  hates  dust  on 
her  mantelpiece  —  I'm  fidgety  not  to  make  some 
sort  of  a  bluff  at  putting  this  thing  on  a  business 
basis. 

WARDEN.  Excuse  me,  Miss  Godesby,  I  think 
Sterling  ought  to  know  the  truth. 

STERLING.  Now  what? 

Miss  GODESBY.   Well,  the  truth  is,  my  fool  of  a 


244  THE   CLIMBERS 

brother  has  kicked  up  an  infernal  row,  and  refuses 
to  hold  his  tongue. 

STERLING.  Then  I'm  ruined  after  all! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Wait,  I've  left  him  with  Mr. 
Mason.  I  feel  certain  I  can  assure  his  silence 
if  I  can  only  show  him  some  sort  of  an  agreement 
to  pay,  an  acknowledgment  of  the  —  the  —  affair, 
signed  and  sealed. 

BLANCHE.   Signed  by  whom? 

Miss  GODESBY.  Your  husband  and  yourself 
will  do. 

STERLING.   But  both  names  are  worthless. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Not  as  a  point  of  honor. 

STERLING.   Ah!  no,  not  my  wife's. 

Miss  GODESBY.   Nor  yours  to  me.     Come  along! 

[She  goes  to  the  table  with  STERLING,  and 
unfolding  a  paper  gives  it  to  him.  He 
signs  it. 


THE   CLIMBERS  245 

WARDEN.  [Aside  to  BLANCHE,  apologizing  for 
his  presence.]  She  made  me  come  —  she  wouldn't 
come  alone ;  otherwise  I  should  have  waited  till 
you  sent  for  me. 

BLANCHE.  It's  as  well  —  I've  decided.  Oh, 
I  wonder  if  I'm  doing  wrong. 

[Looking  him  straight  in  the  face. 

WARDEN.  [Looking  back  searchingly  in  hers 
to  read  the  truth,  but  believing  that  she  will  cer- 
tainly leave  her  husband.]  No,  you  can't  do  wrong ! 
But  I  must  warn  you  of  one  thing  —  I'm  not  any 
longer  the  controlled  man  I  was. 

Miss  GODESBY.  Come  along  now,  Mrs.  Sterling, 
brace  up  and  give  me  your  name,  and  Warden, 
witness,  please.  [They  do  so.]  Of  course,  my 
dears,  I  know  perfectly  well  that  legally  this  isn't 
worth  the  paper  it's  written  on.  [Exchanging  a 
serious  and  meaning  look  with  WARDEN.]  But  my 


246  THE   CLIMBERS 

idiot  of  a  brother  won't  realize  that,  which  is  the 
point.  One  thing  more  —  will  you  both  dine  with 
me  next  week,  Thursday?  [There  is  an  embarrassed 
pause,which,  with  quick  intuition,  she  understands.] 
Yes,  you  will  —  for  silence  gives  consent !  [Laugh- 
ing.] Now,  that's  settled! 

STERLING.   What  an  awfully  good  sort  you  are ! 

Miss  GODESBY.  Thanks,  not  always  —  I've 
been  a  mucker  more  than  once  in  my  life !  I  must 
go  [Shaking  hands  with  BLANCHE.]  and  relieve 
Mr.  Mason  of  my  brother,  or  he'll  be  accusing  me 
of  inhuman  treatment;  more  than  one  consecutive 
hour  of  my  brother  ought  to  be  prevented  by  the 
police. 

BLANCHE.  You  are  very,  very  good. 

Miss  GODESBY.  I  think  if  you  and  I  can  get 
well  over  this,  we'll  be  real  friends,  and  I  haven't 
many,  have  you? 


THE   CLIMBERS  247 

BLANCHE.   [Takes  her  hand.]  You   can  count 
upon  me  and  my  boy  so  long  as  we  live. 

[She  impulsively  but  tenderly  kisses  her, 
[Miss    GODESBY   is   very  much   surprised,   but 

moved. 

Miss  GODESBY.    [Half  laughing,  half  crying,  and 

pulling  her  veil  down  to   hide  her  emotion.]   By 

George !    I  haven't  been  kissed  by  a  woman  for 

years !     Good-by. 

[WARDEN  starts  to  go  out  with  Miss  GODESBY. 

BLANCHE  stops  him. 

BLANCHE.   Wait  one  moment  —  I  want  to  speak 
alone  to  Miss  Godesby. 

[Miss  GODESBY  goes  out  Left. 
BLANCHE.   [Aside  to  STERLING.]  You  tell  him; 
I  cannot.     Tell  him  the  truth. 

[She  goes  out  after  Miss  GODESBY. 
WARDEN.   Dick. 


248  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.  Ned? 

WARDEN.  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  you,  Ster- 
ling. 

[WARDEN  looks  away  and  whistles  a  tune  to 
show  his  unwillingness  to  listen.     STERLING 
speaks  clearly  so  WARDEN  shall  hear. 
STERLING.   I  have  a  message  for  you  from  my 
wife.    [There  is  a  second's  pause.      WARDEN  stops 
whistling  and  turns  and  looks  at  STERLING.]   She 
asks  me    to    explain  —  to  tell  —  to    tell    you    a 
decision  she  has  come  to. 

[There  is  another  pause. 
WARDEN.   Yes? 
[Anxious,  at  a  supreme  tension,  and  now  a  little 

alarmed  as  to  the  decision. 
STERLING.   She  has  decided  not  to  leave  my  house. 
WARDEN.   [Adds.]   Yet! 
STERLING.  Ever! 


THE   CLIMBERS  249 

WARDEN.    [Losing  his  control.]  That's  a  lie! 

STERLING.  I  couldn't  believe  it,  either,  when  she 
told  me.  It  was  her  first  word  to  me  to-day.  I 
said,  "You  are  going  to  divorce  me,"  and  she 
answered,  "No." 

WARDEN.  She's  sacrificing  herself  for  some 
reason  —  her  boy ! 

STERLING.  Never  mind,  she  won't  leave  me; 
I  have  her  promise,  and  I'll  win  back  her  love ! 

WARDEN.  You  fool !  You  can't  win  her  back ! 
She  would  never  have  loved  me  if  you  hadn't 
disillusioned,  dishonored  her !  I'm  not  worthy  of 
her,  but  I'll  never  dishonor  her,  and,  please  God, 
never  disappoint  her,  and  so  I'll  keep  her  love. 

STERLING.  Well,  as  to  that,  she  decides  to  stay, 
leaving  love  out  of  the  question. 

WARDEN.  And  you'll  accept  that  sacrifice! 
You  don't  even  love  her.  You're  only  thinking 


250  THE  CLIMBERS 

of  yourself  now.  Love,  real  love,  forgets  itself. 
You,  after  having  spoilt  half  her  life,  are  willing 
to  spoil  the  rest,  for  your  own  sake! 

STERLING.  No,  for  the  boy's  sake,  and  her 
sake  —  to  save  a  scandal  —  the  world  — 

[Interrupted. 

WARDEN.  [Beside  himself.]  Oh,  damn  the  world  ! 
It's  heaven  and  hell  you'd  better  think  of.  Scandal ! 
It  couldn't  harm  her,  and  the  hurt  it  would  do  you 
is  a  small  price  to  pay.  Those  whom  God  has 
joined  — yes!  but  it  was  the  devil  bound  her  to 
you! 

STERLING.  Here!  I've  had  enough!  Look 
out! 

WARDEN.  {Moves  toward  him.]  You  look  out 
—  you  shan't  rob  her  of  her  happiness.  You  —  a 
drunkard !  A  forger !  A  thief ! 

STERLING.  I'd  keep  her  now  if  only  to  spite  you  / 


THE   CLIMBERS  251 

WARDEN.  Hah !  There  spoke  the  true  man  in 
you !  Would  to  heaven  the  old  days  of  duelling 
were  back ! 

STERLING.  A  brave  wish,  as  you  know  they're 
not! 

WARDEN.  They  fight  in  other  countries  still 
for  their  love  and  honor,  and  I'm  ready  here,  now, 
if  you  are,  with  any  weapons  you  choose ! 

[STERLING  sneers.] 

Sneer!  But  will  you  fight?  We'll  find  a  place, 
and  something  to  fight  with,  or  fists  if  you'd 
rather!  You  wouldn't  kill  me  before  I'd  got 
you  out  of  her  way  for  good.  Will  you  fight? 
[Coming  closer  to  him. 

STERLING.  No ! 

WARDEN.  [Getting  more  and  more  enraged.] 
If  you  lose,  you  go  away,  and  set  her  free  of  your 
own  will! 


252  THE   CLIMBERS 

STERLING.  Not 

WARDEN.    [Losing     entirely     his     self-control.] 
What  do  you  want  to  make  you  fight — will  that? 
[He  gives  him  a  stinging  blow  in  the /ace. 
STERLING.  Yes! 

[He   springs   toward   WARDEN   as   RUTH   and 
MASON  enter  Left.     The  two  men  stand  rigid, 
WARDEN  breathing  heavily. 
RUTH.   Blanche,    may    I    bring    in  —  where's 
Blanche  ? 

STERLING.     I  don't  know. 
MASON.    Good  morning,  gentlemen. 
[There  is  no  response.    WARDEN  is  with  great 
difficulty  restraining   himself.     His   lips  are 
compressed  tightly  and  his  hands  clenched. 
RUTH.   What's  the  trouble? 
STERLING.  I  have  just  told  Warden  my  wife's 
decision  not  to  leave  me. 


THE   CLIMBERS  253 

RUTH.  [Showing  her  relief  and  satisfaction 
in  her  face,  turns  to  WARDEN.]  You  won't  try  to 
shake  that  resolve? 

WARDEN.  [Unable  to  control  himself.}  But  I 
will !  I  will  —  I  tell  you  all !  I  hardly  know  what 
I  say  or  do !  But  look  out  for  me,  I'm  desperate ! 
I'm  a  torrent  that's  only  let  loose  since  yesterday, 
and  now  all  of  a  sudden  you  try  to  stop  me !  But 
it's  too  late ;  I've  got  my  impetus ;  the  repressed 
passion  of  years  is  behind  me;  nothing  can  stop 
me  —  and  God  keep  me  from  doing  the  wrong 
thing!  I  am  determined  to  clear  him  out  of  the 
way  of  the  happiness  of  the  woman  I  love.  [To 
RUTH.]  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  approve  of  her 
decision?  [RUTH  turns  her  head;  he  turns  to 
MASON.]  Do  you? 

RUTH.   No. 

STERLING.   [To  RUTH,  holding  out  his  hand,] 


254  THE    CLIMBERS 

You  will  stand  by  me,  Aunt  Ruth,  and  together 
we  — 

RUTH.  [Interrupting  and  refusing  his  hand.] 
Oh,  no. 

STERLING.  Don't  you  think  I  can  win  her  love 
back? 

RUTH.   No. 

STERLING.   Won't  you  help  me  try? 

RUTH.  No.    It  would  be  useless. 

WARDEN.  Come  with  me  to  Blanche;  I  must 
speak  with  her. 

[WARDEN  and  RUTH  go  out  Right. 

MASON.  [Alone  with  STERLING.]  Go  away 
and  make  your  wife  understand  you  are  never 
coming  back. 

STERLING.  But  the  loneliness,  the  misery,  away 
—  alone. 

MASON.   Kill  them  with  hard  work ;  you  have 


THE    CLIMBERS  •  255 

other  heavy  debts,  you  know.  I  came  to  see  you 
about  this  business  of  your  acknowledgments  to 
Miss  Godesby  and  Miss  Hunter. 

STERLING.  Later,  later.  To-morrow  I  will 
decide  — 

[He  motions  him  away.  MASON  goes  to  him  and 
puts  his  hand  on  his  shoulder. 

MASON.   Decide  well  — 

[He  hesitates  a  moment  and  then  goes  out  Right. 

STERLING.  [Watching  him  go.]  There's  not 
one  soul  in  this  world  who  cares  for  me,  and  it's 
my  own  fault.  [RICHARD  is  heard  upstairs  again 
singing  "Once  in  Royal  David's  City."  STERLING 
lifts  his  head  and  listens.]  Yes,  one  little  soul 
loves  me,  and  it  would  be  better  for  him,  too,  if  I 
went  away.  I'll  go  to  sleep  and  see  how  I  feel 
about  it  when  I  wake  up.  [He  moves  the  glass  of 
water  and  takes  out  the  box  of  tablets.  He  starts 


256  THE    CLIMBERS 

suddenly,  bill  very  slightly,  and  his  muscles  tighten.] 
After  all,  why  not  end  it  all  now,  at  once,  without 
any  more  bother?  [He  looks  in  the  box,  and  glances 
up  questioningly ;  then  he  remembers  the  fireplace 
where  he  threw  the  other  tablets  and  looks  across  the 
room  at  the  logs.  He  rises,  goes  over,  and  sees  in  the 
fireplace  the  twisted  envelope  which  holds  the  other 
tablets.  He  bends  over  to  pick  it  up;  he  stops 
short.]  No!  Why  shouldn't  I  try  it,  anyway? 
She,  herself,  gives  me  the  chance !  [He  rings  the 
electric  bell,  and  walking  away  from  the  fireplace, 
takes  up  with  a  trembling  hand  the  papers  left  by 
MASON  ;  he  wipes  the  damp  from  his  forehead  with 
his  handkerchief.  To  JORDAN,  who  enters  Left.] 
Light  the  fire  quickly;  I  feel  cold. 

[He  sinks  into  the  arm-chair,  weak  from  the 

mental  strain. 
LEONARD.  It's  very  warm  in  the  house,  sir. 


THE   CLIMBERS  257 

STERLING.   Do  as  I  tell  you — light  the  fire. 
LEONARD.   [Looking  for  matches  on  the  mantel, 
finds  the  box  empty.]   There  are  no  matches,  sir; 
I  must  get  one. 

STERLING.   No,  don't  go  —  here  —  here  — 
[He   gives   him   a   match   from   his   own  box. 
LEONARD  notices  the  trembling  hand  and  sup- 
pressed excitement  of  STERLING,  and  involun- 
tarily glances  up,  but  quickly  looks  back  to  his 
work  and  strikes  a  match.     The  match  goes  out. 
LEONARD.  I  shall  need  another  match,  please, 
sir. 

STERLING.  [With  one  in  his  fingers  taken  from 
his  match-box,  he  alters  his  mind.]  I  have  no  more. 
[He  puts  away  his  match-box.]  Never  mind  the 
fire ;  get  me  a  pint  bottle  of  champagne. 

LEONARD.  [With  a  surreptitious  side  glance  of 
curiosity.]  Very  well,  sir. 


258  THE    CLIMBERS 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

STERLING.  That  was    funny;    that  was    very 
funny!    I  wonder  if  it  was  accident,  or  if  there's 
such  a  thing  as  fatality.    [He  goes  to  the  fireplace 
and  picks  up  the  twisted  envelope.]  If  not  now  — 
perhaps    some    other    time  —  who    knows  ?   [He 
thrusts  the  envelope  in  his  vest  pocket,  and  takes  up 
the  papers  again  from  the  table  to  look  over  them.] 
I  can't  read  these  things!   [Throwing  them  down.] 
The  words  mean  nothing  to  me! 
[There  is  the  sound  outside  of  a  cork  being  drawn. 
LEONARD  enters  with  the  champagne  and  a 
glass  and  places  them  beside  STERLING. 
LEONARD.  Shall  I  light  the  fire  now,  sir? 
STERLING.  No,  never  mind  now. 
LEONARD.  Yes,  sir. 

[He  goes  out  Left. 
[STERLING  half  fills  the  glass  "with  'champagne; 


THE   CLIMBERS  259 

He  takes  out  the   box  of  tablets  and  counts 

aloud. 

STERLING.  One,  two,  three,  four—  [He  puts 
all  in  the  glass,  dropping  them  as  he  counts.  He 
hesitates,  then  quickly  drops  in  two  more  and  drinks 
quickly.  The  glass  is  empty.  He  sits  by  the  table 
thinking  a  moment,  then  takes  a  piece  of  paper 
and  makes  ready  his  stylo  graphic  pen.]  Let  me  see ; 
can  I  make  it  seem  accidental;  it  would  be  so 
much  less  bother  and  trouble  for  them !  [He 
thinks  a  second,  then  writes.]  "I  have  accidentally 
taken  an  overdose  of  my  sleeping  draught.  I  have 
tried  to  call  some  one,  but  it's  no  use.  I  ask  only 
one  thing,  that  you  forget  all  my  sins,  wipe  out 
their  memory  with  my  name.  I  want  my  boy  to 
change  his  name,  too."  [He  hesitates  a  moment, 
and  then  scratches  that  sentence  heavily  out.]  No> 
I  won't  say  that.  [He  waits  a  moment.]  God  in 


260  THE   CLIMBERS 

heaven,  what  wouldn't  I  give   for  one  friendly 
word  just  now !    Some  one  to  sort  of  say  good-by 
to  me  —  take  my  hand  —  even  a  servant  I 
[He  looks  about  him,  showing  signs  of  drowsiness. 
The    door    Right    bursts    open.     STERLING 
quickly  hides  the  letter  in  his  inside  pocket  as 
WARDEN  comes  in. 
WARDEN.  My  hat!    Where's  my  hat! 

[He  looks  about  for  it. 
STERLING.   [Quietly.]  Ned? 
WARDEN.  My  hat,  I  say!    Where's  my  hat? 

[Looking. 
STERLING.  Ned! 
[Something    in    his    voice    arrests    WARDEN'S 

attention. 

WARDEN.  What?  [He  looks  at  him.]  What's 
the  matter  — 
STERLING.  Nothing  — I'm  half    asleep,  that's 


THE   CLIMBERS  261 

all — the  reaction — I'm  worn  out  and  I've  changed 
my  mind  — 

WARDEN.  How  do  you  mean? 

STERLING.  I'm  going  away  for  good  —  that's 
the  best  I  can  do ;  I  want  you  to  forgive  me  —  could 
you?  What  do  you  say?  Forgive  me  for  every- 
thing !  For  the  sake  of  the  old  schoolboy  days  — 

WARDEN.   When  are  you  going? 

STERLING.  To-day.  Will  you  say  good-by  to 
me  and  wish  me  well  on  my  journey? 

WARDEN.  [Speaks  without  sympathy.]  You  can 
count  on  me  always  to  help  you  in  any  way  I  can. 
You  can  still  retrieve  a  good  deal  if  you're  strong 
enough. 

STERLING.  I  know  what  a  beastly  friend  I've 
been,  and  yesterday  was  more  than  any  man  would 
stand,  but  forgive  that,  too,  will  you  ?  I've  always 
been  a  bad  lot! 


262  THE   CLIMBERS 

WARDEN.  [Goes  to  him  and  speaks,  with  the 
sympathy  of  a  man  for  a  child  coming  into  his  voice.] 
No,  a  weak  lot;  that's  been  your  ruin,  Dickie. 
I'll  see  you  again  before  you  go. 

STERLING.  No,  I'm  going  to  sleep  as  long  as  I 
can  now,  and  I  don't  want  any  one  to  wake  me  up ; 
but  when- 1  do  wake,  I  shall  have  other  things  to 
do.  This  is  good-by. 

WARDEN.  Well,  good  luck !  [He  starts  to  go. 
The  two  men  look  at  each  other,  and  finally  STER- 
LING gets  the  courage  to  hold  out  his  hand.  WARDEN 
hesitates  a  moment,  then  shakes  it.]  Good  luck ! 

[He  goes  out  Left. 

[STERLING,  who  has  been  growing  more  and  more 
drowsy,  as  soon  as  he  is  alone,  goes  with  diffi- 
culty to  the  door  and  locks  it.  He  is  so  drowsy 
that  he  leans  against  the  door  fora  moment;  then 
he  starts  to  go  back  to  the  table,  but  is  unable  to 


THE    CLIMBEKS  .263 

get  there  and  sinks  on  the  sofa  half  way  between 

the  table  and  the  door.    His  eyes  dose,  but 

suddenly  he  starts  violently  and  tries  to  rise, 

but  cannot,  crying  out  faintly. 

STERLING.    Good  God  —  the  money !    I  forgot 

the  money  —  who'll  pay  my  debts?     Ah,  this  is  a 

fitting  climax  for  my  life  —  the  weakest,  dirtiest 

thing    I've    done  —     [He  gets  the  letter  from  his 

pocket  and  holds  it  in  his  hand;  the  light  of  the 

afternoon  grows  slowly  dim,  like  his  fading  sight 

and  senses.     He  murmurs  twice  in  a  faint,  drowsy 

voice.}   Coward  1     Coward! 

[BLANCHE,  in  the  hall  outside  Right,  calls  his 

name. 

BLANCHE.   Dick! 
[STERLING'S  body  relaxes  and  sets.     The  letter 

.drops  from  his  lifeless  hands* 
[BLANCHE    enters     with    RUTH,    followed    by 


264  THE   CLIMBERS 

RICHARD,  who  rides  a  slick  -with  a  horse's 
head  and  wears  a  soldier's  cap. 
RICHARD.   Merry  Christmas,  father! 
BLANCHE.   [Going  toward  the  sofa.]  Dick! 
RICHARD.   Merry  Christmas,  father! 
BLANCHE.   Sh!    Father's  asleep. 
[They  steal  back  toward  the  other  door  when 

WARDEN  enters  Right. 

WARDEN.   Oh,  you  are  here !    I  went  down  into 
the  drawing-room  where  I  left  you. 
BLANCHE.  Sh! 
[She  points  to  STERLING,  who  lies  apparently 

asleep.     They  speak  in  lowered  voices. 
WARDEN.  Yes,   I    have    a    message    for    you 
from  him. 

[Looking  at  RICHARD  and  RUTH. 
RUTH.   [Who  understands.]  Come,  Richard,  I 
haven't  seen  your  tree  yet. 


THE   CLIMBERS  265 

[She  goes  out  Right  with  RICHARD. 

WARDEN.  [To  BLANCHE.]  Give  me  your  hand. 
[She  does  so  wonderingly. 

WARDEN.  [Softly,  with  a  man's  tenderness  in 
his  voice.]  He  is  going  away  for  good. 

BLANCHE.   Away  ? 

WARDEN.   For  good. 

BLANCHE.  [Slowly,  withdrawing  her  hand.] 
For  good?  [She  looks  over  toward  STERLING,  and 
then  back  to  WARDEN.]  What  does  he  mean? 

WARDEN.   We  will  know  when  he  wakes. 

THE  CURTAIN   STEALS   SOFTLY  DOWN 


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